Modified block copolymer and a process for producing the same

ABSTRACT

A modified block copolymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a modified block copolymer consisting essentially of a base block copolymer of a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and an olefin compound polymer block having an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, the base block copolymer having a molecular unit containing a carboxylic acid group and/or a group derived therefrom grafted thereto. The modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is a resinous composition excellent in impact resistance, adhesion, paint adhesion, weatherability, resistance to thermal deterioration, transparency and gloss or a rubbery or leather-like composition excellent in heat resistance, adrasion resistance, compression set resistance, adhesion, transparency, oil resistance, weatherability and resistance to heat aging.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/307,057, filed on Feb. 7, 1989, now abandoned, which is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 07/113,238 filed Oct. 27, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,889 which is a divisional of Ser. No. 06/847,257 filed Apr. 2, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,768, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 06/432,923 filed Sep. 30, 1982, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,072. This application is entitled to the benefit of PCT International Application PCT/JP82/00316 filed on Aug. 13, 1982.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modified block copolymer composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a modified block copolymer.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a resinous modified block copolymer composition excellent in impact resistance, adhesion, paint adhesion, weatherability, resistance to heat aging, transparency and gloss and also to a rubbery or leather-like modified block copolymer composition excellent in heat resistance, abrasion resistance, compression set resistance, adhesion, transparency, oil resistance, weatherability and resistance to heat aging. Each of the above-mentioned compositions comprises a thermoplastic polymer and a modified block copolymer comprising a base block copolymer of a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and an olefin compound polymer block having an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, the base block copolymer having a molecular unit containing a carboxylic acid group and/or a group derived therefrom grafted thereonto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Recently, thermoplastic resins such as polyamides, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyoxymethylene resins, polycarbonate resins, polysulfone resins, nitrile resins, polyphenylene ether resins and polyarylene sulfide resins have been widely used for mechanical parts and electrical parts for which excellent mechanical characteristics, high heat resistance and good durability are required. Weight reduction of the body of an automobile has been promoted to decrease fuel expenses as one of the energy-saving measures, and thermoplastic resins have attracted attention as lightweight materials for automobile parts which have excellent mechanical characteristics and durability.

However, these thermoplastic resins have some defects and fail to sufficiently satisfy requirements demanded in their application fields.

For example, polyoxymethylene resins and nitrile resins are advantageous in that they have very high tensile strength, flexural strength and flexural modulus, they can provide very tough molded articles and they are excellent in solvent resistance, but these resins are inferior in paint adhesion and they cannot advantageously be used as automotive exterior and interior trims or as exterior decorative materials of household electrical appliances. Polycarbonate resins have a very high mechanical strength and their impact strength is very high, but these resins are defective in that the paint adhesion is relatively poor. Furthermore, polyamides, thermoplastic polyesters, polysulfone resins, polyphenylene ether resins and polyarylene sulfide resins have a good heat resistance and a high mechanical strength, but they are defective in that the impact resistance is poor.

Block copolymers comprising a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene compound, especially styrene-butadiene block copolymers, are polymeric materials which have recently attracted attentions.

Characteristic properties of these block copolymers differ according to the content of the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon. More specifically, a block copolymer having a relatively low content of the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon, even though it is unvulcanized, has a good elasticity at room temperature and shows rubbery characteristics. On the other hand, a block copolymer having a relatively high content of the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon is excellent in transparency and impact resistance and shows resinous characteristics. Moreover, a block copolymer comprising a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene compound shows at high temperatures flow characteristics similar to those of a thermoplastic resin, and this block copolymer is advantageous in that the block copolymer can easily be molded by an ordinary extruder or injection molding machine. However, the above-mentioned block copolymers are fatally defective in that the weatherability and resistance to thermal deterioration are poor, and therefore, they have been used only in the fields where such properties are not required. Furthermore, shoes prepared from these block copolymers are inferior to clogs prepared from a vinyl chloride polymer or the like in abrasion resistance and resistance to compression set. Accordingly, improvements of characteristics for overcoming these disadvantages have been desired.

In order to improve the weatherability and resistance to heat aging of the above-mentioned block copolymers, hydrogenating the conjugated diene compound polymer block in the block copolymers have been proposed in Canadian Pat. No. 815,575 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,323.

Although the weatherability or resistance to heat aging is improved to some extent according to this method, the hydrogenated block copolymer is defective in that the adhesion to other materials such as other plastics, metals, glass and woven fabrics is drastically degraded. As means for eliminating this defect, U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,124, discloses a method in which an ionically crosslinked product comprising ethylene and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is incorporated into the hydrogenated block copolymer. However the composition prepared by the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,124 does not have a satisfactorily improved adhesion to other materials, and the composition is defective in that peeling is readily caused in the bonded surface under high humidity conditions or when immersed in water.

As a means for overcoming these defects of thermoplastic resins or block copolymers, there has been proposed a method in which a thermoplastic resin is mixed with a block copolymer to form a mixed polymer composition. For example, there can be mentioned mixed polymer compositions comprising a styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene block copolymer or a block copolymer obtained by partially hydrogenating the above-mentioned copolymer as one component of different polymers for providing a composition having excellent properties and a polar polymer such as a polyamide, polyester or polyurethane as the other component (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,558, U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,459, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 75651/1975, U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,545 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,103). However, in these compositions, the block copolymer or hydrogenated block copolymer component is poor in compatibility with the polar polymer and the obtained mixed polymer composition is heterogeneous, and the properties cannot be satisfactorily improved. Moreover, when the mixed polymer composition is laminated with other material such as a metal, the adhesion between the mixed polymer composition and the metal is insufficient and peeling is readily caused.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, although thermoplastic resins and block copolymers comprising a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene compound have various excellent properties, they cannot be materials sufficiently satisfying requirements demanded in the fields where they are actually used. Moreover, the mixtures of different polymers proposed for overcoming the defects of the thermoplastic resins or block copolymers do not have a satisfactorily improved characteristics. Accordingly, development of a polymer composition having properties required in various fields, for example, in the fields of mechanical parts, electrical parts, automobile parts, construction materials, sheets and films has been strongly desired in the art.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a resinous modified block copolymer composition which is excellent in impact resistance, paint adhesion, weatherability, resistance to heat aging, transparency, gloss and adhesion. Another object of the present invention is to provide a rubbery or leather-like modified block copolymer composition which is excellent in heat resistance, abrasion resistance, resistance to compression set, adhesion, weatherability, resistance to heat aging, transparency and oil resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present inventors have extensively and intensively researched polymer compositions comprising different polymers with a view to improving the compatibility between the different polymers and developing excellent polymer compositions retaining characteristics of the respective polymers. As a result, it has been determined that a modified block copolymer comprising a base block copolymer having a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and an olefin compound polymer block having an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20% and a molecular unit containing a carboxylic acid group and/or a group derived therefrom, which is grafted to the base block copolymer, has a good compatibility with thermoplastic polymers such as polar group-containing polar thermoplastic polymers, polyoxymethylenes, or polycarbonates and that a modified block copolymer composition comprising this modified block copolymer and a thermoplastic polymer is excellent over conventional compositions in mechanical characteristics and has very excellent weatherability and resistance to heat aging. The present invention has been made based on such novel findings.

More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a modified block copolymer composition comprising:

(a) at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polar thermoplastic polymers each containing at least one polar functional group, polyoxymethylenes, polycarbonates, modified polycarbonates, polysulfones, modified polysulfones, nitrile polymers, polyphenylene ethers, modified polyphenylene ethers, polyarylene sulfides and modified polyarylene sulfies; and

(b) at least one modified block copolymer comprising a base block copolymer of at least one monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block A and at least one olefin compound polymer block B having an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, the base block copolymer having at least one molecular unit grafted thereonto, with the at least one molecular unit containing at least one member selected from a carboxylic acid group and groups derived therefrom, the polar thermoplastic polymer excluding the modified block copolymer (b).

The modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is characterized in that a composition having characteristics of a resin (hereinafter often referred to as "resinous composition"), a composition having characteristics of a rubber (hereinafter often referred to as "rubbery composition") and a composition having characteristics intermediate between characteristics of a resin and characteristics of a rubber (hereinafter often referred to as "leather-like composition") can be optionally selected according to an intended use by appropriately adjusting the ratio between the components (a) and (b) and the content of the monovinyl substituted hydrocarbon in the base block copolymer of the modified block copolymer. When the composition of the present invention is a resinous composition, it is especially excellent in impact resistance, adhesion, paint adhesion, weatherability, resistance to heat aging, transparency and gloss, and when the composition of the present invention is a rubbery or leather-like composition, it is especially excellent in heat resistance, abrasion resistance, resistance to compression set, adhesion, transparency, oil resistance, weatherability and resistance to heat aging.

In the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention, since the modified block copolymer component (b) contains a reactive carboxylic acid group or a group derived therefrom in the molecule, when the component (a) is a polar thermoplastic polymer containing a polar group reactive with a carboxylic acid group or a group derived therefrom, chemical bonding is caused by mutual reaction of both the components or ionic crosslinkage is formed by both the components through a metal ion or the like, whereby the component (a) is strongly bonded to the component (b). When the component (a) is a polar group-free thermoplastic polymer, both the components show an excellent compatibility with each other because of physical mutual actions. Accordingly, the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is excellent over conventional mixed different polymer compositions having an insufficient impact resistance due to a poor mutual compatibility in that the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention has excellent mechanical characteristics, and furthermore, the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention has both the characteristics of the component (a) and the characteristics of the component (b) which is practically very valuable. Moreover, since the olefin compound polymer block of the modified block copolymer has an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is excellent in weatherability and resistance to heat aging over conventional block copolymers having a high ethylenic unsaturation degree, for example, styrene-butadiene block copolymers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail.

The component (a) of the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polar thermoplastic polymers each containing at least one polar functional group, polyoxymethylenes, polycarbonates, modified polycarbonates, polysulfones, modified polysulfones, nitrile polymers, polyphenylene ethers, modified polyphenylene ethers, polyarylene sulfides and modified polyarylene sulfides, and the component (a) excludes the component (b). As the polar thermoplastic polymer containing at least one polar functional group, any polymer having a functional group capable of chemically linking to or capable of exhibiting a strong physical mutual action with a carboxylic acid group and/or a group derived therefrom present in the modified block copolymer (b) can be used. As preferred examples of the functional group, there can be mentioned an amino group, a hydroxyl group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an isocyanate group, an epoxy group and groups derived therefrom, such as a urethane group, an ester group, an amide group, an ammonium salt group and a metal carboxylate group. Thermoplastic polymers containing at least one functional group selected from the foregoing groups are preferably used as the component (a). These functional groups may be bonded to either the terminals or the side chains of the polymers. As preferred examples of the polar thermoplastic polymer containing such polar functional group, there can be mentioned polyamides, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic polyurethanes, vinyl alcohol polymers, vinyl ester polymers and ionomers. These polar thermoplastic polymers will now be described in detail.

As the polyamide, there can be mentioned a polycondensate of a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine, a polycondensate of an α-aminocarboxylic acid and a polymer produced by ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic lactam. More specifically, nylon-6, nylon-66, nylon-610, nylon-11, nylon-12, and copolymers thereof, such as nylon-6/nylon-66 and nylon-6/nylon-12 copolymers, are preferred. From the viewpoint of the processability of the composition, it is preferred that the number average molecular weight of the polyamide be 200 to 30,000, especially 200 to 20,000 and that the melting point of the polyamide be 150° to 270° C., especially 150° to 220° C. In the present invention, not only one polyamide but also a mixture of two or more of the polyamides may be used.

The polyester which is used in the present invention is a thermoplastic polyester having an ester linkage in the molecule, and a polyester having a structure formed by polycondensation of a dicarboxylic acid with a glycol is preferred. Polyesters of this type are obtained by polycondensing a dicarboxylic acid or a lower ester, acid halide or acid anhydride thereof with a glycol. As the starting aromatic or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, there are preferably used oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, 1,9-nonane-dicarboxylic acid, 1,10-decane-dicarboxylic acid, 1,16-hexadecane-dicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, p,p'-dicarboxydiphenyl, p-carboxyphenoxyacetic acid and 2,6-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid. Mixtures of two or more of these dicarboxylic acids may also be used. Of the above-mentioned dicarboxylic acids, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid are particularly preferred. An aliphatic or aromatic glycol (or diol) is used as the other starting material of the polyester. For example, there can be mentioned ethylene glycol, 1,3-propane diol, 1,2-propane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, 1,4-cyclohexane diol, 1,10-decane diol, neopentyl glycol and p-xylene glycol. These glycols may be used singly or in the form of a mixture of two or more of them. Of these glycols, alkylene glycols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms are preferred, and ethylene glycol and 1,4-butane diol are particularly preferred. Particularly valuable polyesters produced by polycondensation of the dicarboxylic acid with the glycol are polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, and modified products thereof in which the monomer units are partly substituted with other monomer units.

From the standpoint of processability and mechanical strength of the composition, the number average molecular weight of the polyester is generally 500 to 100,000 and preferably 5,000 to 50,000.

The polymerization method for formation of the polyester used in the present invention is not particularly critical, and the polymerization may be carried out according to customary procedures. For example, there may be mentioned a method in which the above-mentioned acid component, for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or an ester thereof is subjected to direct esterification or ester exchange reaction with at least one member selected from the above-mentioned glycols at a time or stepwise and polymerization is then conducted. Catalysts, stabilizers, modifiers and additives customarily used may optionally be added.

Another valuable polyester which may be used in the present invention is a polylactone obtained by ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic lactone such as pivalolactone, β-propiolactone or ε-caprolactone.

The above-mentioned polyesters have hydroxyl or carboxyl groups at the terminal ends of the molecule, and these terminal functional groups may be rendered unreactive by reaction with a monofunctional alcohol or carboxylic acid. It is preferred that all or part of the terminal ends of the molecule of the polyester have functional groups capable of reacting with the functional groups of the modified block copolymer. The polyester having these functional groups has a remarkably improved compatibility with the modified block copolymer because part of these functional groups is reacted with the modified block copolymer.

In the present invention, the foregoing polyesters may be used alone or in combination thereof.

The thermoplastic polyester referred to in the present invention includes polyesters used as fibers, films or resins, such as polyethylene terephthalate, low crystalline polyesters having a lower melting point, and polyether-ester block copolymers containing hard segments and soft segments in the molecule.

Thermoplastic polyurethanes which are used in the present invention are divided into completely thermoplastic polymers and incompletely thermoplastic polymers according to synthetic conditions, that is, the molar ratio of the NCO group of the diisocyanate relative to the OH group of the starting bifunctional polyol or glycol. More specifically, the polyurethane synthesized in a molar ratio of about 0.95<NCO/OH≦1 is a completely thermoplastic polyurethane, and the polyurethane synthesized in a molar ratio of about 1<NCO/OH<1.1 is an incompletely thermoplastic polyurethane. As the thermoplastic polyurethane, there may be mentioned a polyurethane comprising a block of a polyol (polyester or polyether) and a diisocyanate as a soft segment and a block of a diisocyanate and a glycol as a hard segment.

As the starting polyester diol, there may be mentioned poly(1,4-butylene adipate), poly(1,6-hexane adipate) and polycaprolactone, and as the polyether diol, there may be mentioned polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and polyoxytetramethylene glycol. As the glycol, there can be mentioned ethylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol and 1,6-hexane diol. As the diisocyanate, aromatic, alicyclic and aliphatic diisocyanates can be used. For example, there may be used tolylene diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate.

Besides the foregoing thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyurethanes customarily used as adhesives, foams or paints may be used for the composition of the present invention, so far as they have a sufficient compatibility with the modified block copolymer used as the component (b) in the present invention.

From the standpoint of mechanical characteristics of the composition, it is preferred that the number average molecular weight of the thermoplastic polyurethane be 5,000 to 500,000, particularly 10,000 to 300,000.

In the present invention, homopolymers of vinyl esters and olefin-vinyl ester copolymers, such as polyvinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and propylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, are preferably used as the vinyl ester polymer.

The vinyl alcohol polymers which are used in the present invention include a polymer composed of vinyl alcohol units and a copolymer containing vinyl alcohol units. The polymer composed of vinyl alcohol units is a polymer obtained by partially or completely saponifying a vinyl ester polymer with an aqueous alkali. In the present invention, various polyvinyl alcohols can be used. An olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer is preferably used as the copolymer containing vinyl alcohol units, and from the standpoint of processability and mechanical characteristics of the composition, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is particularly preferred. The ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is synthesized from the corresponding ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer as the starting substance. An ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 0.5 to 80 mole % is generally used, and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer obtained by saponifying 10 to 100 mole % of the vinyl acetate units of this ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is generally used.

As the commercially available vinyl alcohol polymer that can be used in the present invention, there may be mentioned EVAL manufactured and sold by Kuraray Co., Ltd., Japan and GL Resin manufactured and sold by Nippon Gosei Kagaku Co., Ltd., Japan.

The ionomer which is used in the present invention is an ionically crosslinked polymer obtained by ionically crosslinking carboxylic acid groups in a substrate copolymer of an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and other monomer with at least one member selected the group consisting of monovalent, divalent and trivalent metal ions.

A copolymer of a non-polar monomer, for example, an olefin such as ethylene, propylene or butene or styrene and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid such as maleic acid is generally used as the substrate polymer. An olefin-α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer having an olefin content of at least 50 mole % and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid content of 0.2 to 25 mole % is preferred.

The ionomer is prepared by reacting the above-mentioned substrate polymer, for example, an olefin-α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer, with a monovalent, divalent or trivalent metal compound according to the process disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6810/1964. The metal compound is added in such an amount that 10 to 100 mole % of the carboxylic acid groups in the copolymer will be neutralized and participate in ionic crosslinkage.

As the olefin-α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, there may be mentioned, for example, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-itaconic acid copolymer, an ethylene-maleic acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer and an ethylene-propylene-methacrylic acid copolymer. Of the above-mentioned copolymers, a copolymer comprising an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, for example, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer or an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, is preferred.

Monovalent, divalent and trivalent ions of metals of the Groups I, II, III, IV-A and VII of the Periodic Table are used as the metal ion for the production of the ionomer. For example, there may be mentioned monovalent ions such as Na⁺, Li⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺ and Ag⁺, divalent ions such as Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺, Sr²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Fe²⁺, and trivalent ions such as Al³⁺, and Fe³⁺. These metal ions are reacted with the substrate polymers in the form of hydroxides, alcoholates and low carboxylic acid salts.

The ionomer can also be prepared by saponifying an olefin-α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer, for example, an ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer or an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, with a hydroxide of a monovalent, divalent or trivalent metal or partially neutralizing the resulting saponification product to convert part of the saponification product to a corresponding carboxylic acid. The so-prepared ionomer may be used as the component (a) of the composition of the present invention.

As the commercially available ionomer which can be used as the component (a) of the composition of the present invention, there may be mentioned "Surlyn" (the trade name of an ionomer manufactured and sold by Du Pont Co., U.S.A.), "Copolene" (the trade name of an ionomer manufactured and sold by Asahi-Dow Co., Ltd., Japan) and "Hi-Milan" (the trade name of an ionomer manufactured and sold by Mitsui Polychemical Co., Ltd., Japan).

The thermoplastic polymers which may be used as the component (a) of the modified block copolymer composition, other than the above-mentioned polar thermoplastic polymers, will now be described in detail.

As the polyoxymethylene which is used in the present invention, there may be mentioned a homopolymer obtained by polymerization of formaldehyde or trioxane or a copolymer comprising the above-mentioned monomer as the main component. The terminal groups of the homopolymer are generally converted to ester or ether groups to improve the heat resistance or chemical resistance. As the copolymer, there may be mentioned a copolymer of formaldehyde or trioxane with an aldehyde, a cyclic ether, a cyclic carbonate, an epoxide, an isocyanate or a vinyl compound.

An aromatic polycarbonate having a structural unit represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar¹ and Ar^(1') stand for a phenylene group or a phenylene group substituted with an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom or a nitro group, and A stands for an alkylene group, an alkylidene group, a cycloalkylene group, a cycloalkylidene group, a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfoxide group or a sulfone group,

is preferably used as the polycarbonate in the present invention. Poly-4,4'-dioxydiphenyl-2,2'-propane carbonate is particularly preferred.

A thermoplastic polysulfone having a structural unit represented by the following general formula: ##STR2## wherein Ar² and Ar^(2') stand for a phenylene group, and B stands for an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an aromatic diol residue,

is preferred as the polysulfone that is used in the present invention. Poly(ether sulfone) and poly(4,4-bisphenol ether sulfone) are particularly preferred.

Thermoplastic homopolymers and copolymers synthesized by using at least 50% by weight of an α,β-olefinically unsaturated mononitrile as the constituent monomer are preferably used as the nitrile polymer in the present invention. As the α,β-olefinically unsaturated mononitrile, there may be mentioned, for example, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and α-bromoacrylonitrile. A mixture of two or more of these monomers may be used. As the monomer to be copolymrized with the α,β-olefinically unsaturated mononitrile, there may be mentioned lower α-olefins such as ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, pentene-1, vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride; monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, vinyltoluene, chlorostyrene and methylstyrene; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate; lower alkyl esters of α,β-olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids such as methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate; and vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether.

A polyphenylene ether having a structural unit represented by the following general formula: ##STR3## wherein R¹ and R² stand for an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom or a hologen atom,

or a polyphenylene ether graft copolymer obtained by grafting a styrene type compound onto the above polyphenylene ether is preferably used as the polyphenylene either in the present invention. As the styrene type compound used for the graft modification, there can be mentioned styrene, α-methylstyrene, methylstyrene, tert-butylstyrene and chlorostyrene. Two or more of these styrene type compounds may be used for the graft polymerization. If desired, other copolymerizable vinyl compounds such as acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile may be grafted together with the styrene type compound. Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) ether and a styrene-grafted copolymer thereof are particularly preferred as the polyphenylene ether.

Arylene sulfide homopolymers and copolymers having a structural unit represented by the following general formula: ##STR4## wherein Ar³ stands for a phenylene group or a phenylene group substituted with an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group,

are preferably used as the polyarylene sulfide in the present invention. Polyphenylene sulfide and poly-4,4'-diphenylene sulfide are particularly preferred.

It is preferred that the modified polycarbonate, modified polysulfone, modified polyphenylene ether and modified polyarylene sulfide which is used in the present invention be respectively a blend of the above-mentioned polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyphenylene ether and polyarylene sulfide with an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon homopolymer and/or an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon copolymer as the modifying polymer. As the alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon homopolymer or alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon copolymer which is used for the modification, there may be mentioned polymers containing at least 50% by weight of a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon, for example, polystyrene, a styrene-α-methylstyrene copolymer, a butadiene-styrene block copolymer, an impact-resistant rubber-modified styrene polymer, an acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, a styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer, a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, an acrylic acid ester-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a methacrylic acid ester-butadiene-styrene copolymer and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polymers. From the standpoint of modification effect, it is preferred that the content of the modifying polymer in the blend be 10 to 70% by weight, particularly 20 to 50% by weight.

The modified block copolymer which is used as the component (b) of the composition of the present invention is at least one modified block copolymer comprising a block copolymer (hereinafter referred to as "base block copolymer") having at least one monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block A and at least one olefin compound polymer block B having an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, the base block copolymer having at least one molecular unit grafted thereonto, with the at least one molecular unit containing at least one member selected from a carboxylic acid group and a group derived therefrom. The olefin compound polymer block is preferably a polymer block in which at least one olefin compound selected from mono-olefins such as ethylene, propylene, 1-butene and isobutylene, conjugated diolefins such as butadiene, isoprene and 1,3-pentadiene and non-conjugated diolefins such as 1,4-hexadiene, norbornene and norbornene derivatives is homopolymerized or copolymerized, and the ethylenic unsaturation degree of this block does not exceed 20%. The term "ethylenic unsaturation degree" as used herein is intended to mean the percent of the number of the monomer units having an unsaturated bond relative to the number of all the monomer units constituting the olefin compound polymer block. Accordingly, the term "ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%" as used herein is intended to mean that the percent of the number of the monomer units having an unsaturated bond relative to the number of all the monomer units constituting the olefin compound polymer block does not exceed 20%. It is preferred that the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the olefin compound polymer block be not more than 15%. If the olefin compound polymer block has an ethylenic unsaturation degree exceeding 20%, the weatherability and resistance to thermal deterioration of the composition are degraded, and no good results can be obtained. Accordingly, if a diolefin such as mentioned above is used as the constituent monomer of the olefin compound polymer block, it is necessary that the ethylenic unsaturation degree should be reduced by hydrogenation or the like to such an extent that the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the olefin compound polymer block does not exceed 20%, preferably not more than 15%. A monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon may be random-copolymerized to the olefin compound polymer block. As the base block copolymer, there may be mentioned a hydrogenation product of a block copolymer of a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene compound, and a block copolymer of a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a mono-olefin. A modified block copolymer which is preferably used in the present invention is one prepared by addition-reacting the above-mentioned base block copolymer with at least one modifier selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof. A modified block copolymer which is most preferably used in the present invention is a modified block copolymer obtained by selectively hydrogenating a block copolymer (hereinafter referred to as "precursory block copolymer") comprising at least one monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and at least one polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound at its conjugated diene compound moiety so that the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound does not exceed 20%, and addition-reacting the hydrogenated block copolymer with at least one modifier selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof. A precursory block copolymer comprising at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks and at least one polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound is especially preferred. In the polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound, it is preferred that the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon/conjugated diene compound weight ratio be in the range of from 0/100 to 50/50, particularly from 0/100 to 30/70. In the case where the conjugated diene compound is copolymerized with the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon in this polymer block, the distribution of the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon may be a random distribution, a tapering distribution (the monomer content increases or decreases along the molecule chain), a partially blocked distribution or any combination thereof. In the precursory block copolymer of the present invention, a portion of a copolymer of the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and the conjugated diene compound having a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content higher than 50% by weight may be present in the transitional portion between the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound. In the present invention, this copolymer portion is included in the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound.

In the precursory block copolymer, the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content is 5 to 95% by weight, preferably 10 to 90% by weight, more preferably 15 to 85% by weight. When the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content is not more than 60% by weight, preferably not more than 55% by weight, the precursory block copolymer has characteristics as a thermoplastic elastomer, and when the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content is more than 60%, preferably more than 70%, the precursory block copolymer has characteristics as a resinous polymer.

At least one member selected from styrene, α-methylstyrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, dimethylstyrene and p-tert-butylstyrene is preferably used as the mono-vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon constituting the precursory block copolymer, and styrene is particularly preferred. At least one member selected from butadiene, isoprene and 1,3-pentadiene is preferably used as the conjugated diene compound, and butadiene and/or isoprene is particularly preferred. The number average molecular weight of the precursory block copolymer is 20,000 to 500,000, preferably 40,000 to 300,000. It is preferred that the ratio of the weight average molecular weight relative to the number average molecular weight be in the range of from 1.05 to 10. The weight average molecular weight can be measured by the ultra-centrifugal method and the number average molecular weight can be measured by the osmotic pressure method. In the precursory polymer block, it is preferred that the vinyl content of the conjugated diene portion be 10 to 80%. When it is necessary that rubbery elasticity should be given to the modified block copolymer, it is preferred that the vinyl content be 25 to 65%, particularly 35 to 55%. The vinyl content of the precursory block copolymer can be measured by means of a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus.

When the precursory block copolymer contains at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks or at least two polymer blocks composed mainly of the conjugated diene, these blocks may have the same structure, or they may be different in monomer content, monomer distribution in the molecule chain, molecular weight of the block and linking manner of the conjugated diene portion.

As the method for preparing the precursory block copolymer, there may be mentioned methods disclosed in British Patent No. 895,980, British Patent No. 1,130,770, U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,383, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2423/1973 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,517. According to each of these methods, the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon is block-copolymerized with the conjugated diene compound in a hydrocarbon solvent using as an anion polymerization initiator an organic lithium compound or the like and if necessary using as a vinyl modifier an ether compound such as diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran, a tertiary amine such as triethyl amine or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene diamine or a Lewis base such as a phosphine compound, e.g., hexamethylphosphamide, and as a coupling agent a polyfunctional compound such as silicon tetrachloride or epoxidized soy bean oil. A block copolymer having a linear, branched or radial structure can be obtained. In the present invention, a block copolymer prepared according to any of the foregoing polymerization methods can be used. Not only one precursory block copolymer but also a mixture of two or more precursory block copolymers may be used.

The base block copolymer can be obtained by hydrogenating the above-mentioned precursory block copolymer according to a known method, for example, the method disclosed in British Patent No. 1,020,720. It is requisite that at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, of the monomer units having an aliphatic double bond in the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound in the precursory block copolymer should be hydrogenated. In other words, it is requisite that the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the olefin compound polymer block B formed by conversion of the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound by hydrogenation should not exceed 20%, preferably not exceed 15%. As pointed out hereinbefore, if the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the olefin compound polymer block exceeds 20%, the weatherability or resistance to thermal deterioration of the composition is degraded and good results cannot be obtained. From the standpoint of mechanical characteristics, it is preferred that the degree of hydrogenation of the monomer units containing aromatic double bonds derived from the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon in the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon copolymerized according to need to the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound be not more than 20%. The ethylenic unsaturation degree of the olefin compound polymer block can be measured by instrumental analysis using an infrared spectrophotometer (IR) or a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus (NMR) or by titration analysis such as iodine titration.

The base block copolymer is then modified by addition reaction with at least one modifier selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, whereby a modified block copolymer to be used in the present invention is obtained. As the unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative which is used as the modifier, there may be mentioned, for example, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, maleic acid esters, maleic acid amides, maleic acid imides, fumaric acid, fumaric acid esters, fumaric acid amides, fumaric acid imides, itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, itaconic acid esters, itaconic acid amides, itaconic acid imides, halogenated maleic acid, halogenated maleic anhydride, halogenated maleic acid esters, halogenated maleic acid amides, halogenated maleic acid imides, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid esters, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid amides, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid imides, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid esters, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid amide, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imide, acrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, acrylic acid amide, methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid esters and methacrylic acid amide. These modifiers may be used alone or in combination thereof. Among these modifiers, unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof are preferred and maleic anhydride is particularly preferred.

The modified block copolymer is obtained by grafting the above-mentioned modifier onto the base block polymer in a solution state or molten state in the presence or absence of a radical initiator. The method for preparing the modified block copolymer is not particularly critical in the present invention. However, a method providing a modified block copolymer containing an undesirable component such as gel or a modified block copolymer having an extremely high melt viscosity and degrading the processability of the composition is not preferred. For example, there is preferably adopted a method in which the base block copolymer is reacted with the above-mentioned modifier in the presence of a radical initiator in, for example, an extruder.

The amount of the molecular unit containing a carboxylic acid group or a group derived therefrom, which is contained in the modified block copolymer, that is, the amount of the unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative grafted onto the base block copolymer, is 0.05 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.3 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base block copolymer, as the mean value in the entire modified block copolymer used in the present invention. When this amount of the molecular unit containing a carboxylic acid group or a group derived therefrom is smaller than 0.05 part by weight, no significant modification effect can be obtained over the unmodified block copolymer, and even if this amount exceeds 30 parts by weight, no substantial increase of the modification effect can be attained.

The content of the molecular unit containing a carboxylic acid group or a group derived therefrom in the modified block copolymer can be easily determined by infrared spectrophotometry or titration. In the present invention, the unmodified block copolymer may be contained in the modified block copolymer used as the component (b), so far as the amount of the unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative grafted onto the base block copolymer as the mean value in the entire component (b) is in the above-mentioned range.

In the present invention, the modified block copolymer may be an ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer. This ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer is obtained by crosslinking the above-mentioned modified block copolymer through at least one member selected from monovalent, divalent and trivalent metal ions. Namely, the crosslinked modified block copolymer is prepared by reacting the modified block copolymer with at least one crosslinking agent selected from monovalent, divalent and trivalent metal compounds.

In the ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer, the carboxylic acid group and/or the group derived therefrom of the modified block copolymer is ionized by addition of the above-mentioned crosslinking agent. The degree of ionization can be adjusted according to the amount of the crosslinking compound employed, and the degree of ionization can be determined by, for example, an infrared spectrophotometer.

The crosslinking agent is added in such an amount that a carboxylic acid group and/or a group derived therefrom, which is contained in the modified block copolymer, is partially or completely ionized. The ionization reaction is advanced substantially quantitatively, but in some case, in order to obtain the desirable degree of ionization, it is necessary to add the crosslinking agent in excess of the stoichiometrical amount. In order to obtain the ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer effectively, it is preferred that the ratio of the mole number of the metal compound relative to the total mole number of the carboxylic acid group and the group derived therefrom, contained in the modified block copolymer be in the range of from 0.1 to 3.0.

At least one member selected from compounds of metals of the Groups I, II and III of the Periodic Table is preferably used as the crosslinking agent to be added to the modified block copolymer for formation of the ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer. More specifically at least one member selected from lithium compounds, sodium compounds, potassium compounds, magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, zinc compounds and aluminum compounds is preferably used. It is preferred that these compounds are hydroxides, alcoholates or carboxylic acid salts.

As the method for obtaining the ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer, there may be mentioned a method in which the crosslinking agent is added to the melt of the modified block copolymer, a method in which the modified block copolymer is dissolved in an appropriate solvent, for example, an organic solvent such as toluene, benzene or tetrahydroruran and the crosslinking agent is added to the solution to effect the crosslinking reaction, and a method in which the crosslinking agent is added to a latex of the modified block copolymer. Any of these methods can be used for formation of the ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer to be used in the present invention.

The ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer which is used in the present invention is thermoplastic, and a composition obtained by mixing this modified block copolymer with the component (a) is processable at high temperatures, and the ionic crosslinkage is a reversible crosslinkage. These characteristic properties are not possessed by block copolymers obtained through irreversible crosslinkage such as sulfur cross-linkage, peroxide crosslinkage or irradiation crosslinkage.

The composition of the present invention includes an ionically crosslinked composition obtained by adding the cross-linkage agent to a mixture of the thermoplastic polymer as the component (a) and the modified block copolymer as the component (b) which is molten or dissolved in an appropriate solution, to effect the crosslinking reaction.

From the standpoint of mechanical characteristics of the composition, it is preferred that the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer of the component (b) of the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention be 5 to 95% by weight. When the modified block copolymer as the component (b) is required to have a rubbery elasticity, it is preferred that the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer be 5 to 60% by weight. On the other hand, when the modified block copolymer as the component (b) is required to have resinous characteristics, it is preferred that the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer be over 60% by weight up to 95% inclusive by weight. As pointed out hereinbefore, the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention can be a resinous composition, a rubbery composition or a leather-like composition according to the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer as the component (a) relative to the modified block copolymer as the component (b) and the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer of the modified block copolymer as the component (b). In the case where a resinous composition is obtained, when the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer is over 60% by weight up to 95% inclusive by weight, preferably 65 to 90% by weight, the component (a)/component (b) weight ratio is adjusted in the range of from 90/10 to 5/95, preferably from 85/15 to 10/90, more preferably from 80/20 to 15/85, and when the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer is 5 to 60% by weight, preferably 10 to 55% by weight, more preferably 15 to 50% by weight, the component (a)/component (b) weight ratio is adjusted in the range of from over 50/50 up to 98/2 inclusive, preferably from 60/40 to 95/5, more preferably from 70/30 to 90/10. When the amount of the component (b) is too small and below the above range, no substantial effect of improving the impact resistance or paint adhesion can be attained, and when the amount of the component (b) is too large, the rigidity is degraded. In the case where a rubbery or leather-like composition is prepared, when the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of the base block copolymer is 5 to 60% by weight, preferably 10 to 55% by weight, more preferably 15 to 55% by weight, the component (a)/component (b) weight ratio is adjusted in the range of from 2/98 to 50/50, preferably from 5/95 to 40/60, more preferably from 10/90 to 30/70. When the amount of the component (a) is too small and below the above range, no substantial improvement of the composition as a rubbery or leather-like composition can be attained. When the amount of the component (a) is too large, the rubbery or leather-like characteristics are lost and the composition becomes resinous.

Reinforcers, fillers, antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, coloring agents, pigments, lubricants, flame retardants, foaming agents and other additives may be added to the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention. Specific examples of the additives which can be added to the composition of the present invention are described in "Handbook of Additive Chemicals to Rubbers and Plastics" published by Rubber Digest Co., Ltd, Japan in 1974.

For example, a composition obtained by adding 5 to 150 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight, of a glass fiber to 100 parts by weight of the resinous modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is an excellent molding material having improved rigidity, heat resistance and mechanical strength. Glass fibers having a diameter of 2 to 20μ and a length of 50 to 20,000μ, customarily incorporated into resins, are preferably used.

When the rubbery or leather-like modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is used as a material for a shoe sole or an industrial article, a finely divided solid such as calcium carbonate, clay, silica or titanium dioxide may be added as a filler or pigment, and a hardness adjusting agent, for example, a resin such as polystyrene or polyolefin and a moldability adjusting agent, for example, a process oil such as a paraffin oil or a naphthene oil may be added according to need. An Example of the amounts of these additives added to the modified block copolymer composition are as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Rubbery or leather-like                                                                           100 parts by weight                                         composition of the present                                                     invention                                                                      Resin              30 to 100 parts by weight                                   Process oil        50 to 100 parts by weight                                   Finely divided filler                                                                             20 to 200 parts by weight                                   ______________________________________                                    

The modified block copolymer composition of the present invention may be formed by mixing the components (a) and (b) by means of a mixing device appropriately selected according to the mixing ratio of the components (a) and (b) from various mixing devices such as a single screw extruder, a multiple screw extruder, a mixing roll, a Banbury mixer and a kneader. It is preferred that the mixing be carried out in the molten state. Moreover, the composition of the present invention can be formed according to a method in which the respective components are dissolved in an organic solvent such as toluene, benzene or tetrahydrofuran and the solvent is removed from the resulting mixture by heating.

The modified block copolymer composition of the present invention can be easily molded into various, practically valuable products such as sheets, foams, films and injection molded, blow molded, pressure formed and rotary molded articles having various shapes according to optional known molding methods such as extrusion molding, injection molding, blow molding and rotary molding methods.

The so-obtained molded articles formed of the modified block copolymer of the present invnetion may be painted or plated according to need. Any of known paints such as acrylic resin paints, vinyl-modified acrylic resin paints, alkyd resin paints, polyurethane resin paints, epoxy resin paints, phenolic resin paints, melamine resin paints and urea resin paints may be used for painting these molded articles.

A metallic feel can be imparted to the molded articles by a plating treatment. Any of the known plating methods such as chemical plating and electrical plating methods may be adopted. In case of the resinous modified block copolymer composition of the present invention comprising the ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer as the component (b), when the incorporated amount of the component (a) is relatively large, the component (b) is dispersed in the component (a) in the peculiar form different from the circular or oval form observed in conventional different polymer mixtures, and therefore, when a molded article of this composition is chemically etched and then plated, a high anchor effect can be attained and a plated molded article having a high plate adhesion can be obtained.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples.

In the Examples, the number average molecular weights of polymers were determined according to the osmotic pressure method and the weight average molecular weights were determined according to the ultra-centrifugal method. Furthermore, the melt index values referred to in the Examples are those determined according to the method of ASTM D-1238.

(1) Preparation of Unmodified Block Copolymers

Unmodified block copolymers shown in Table 1 were prepared by subjecting butadiene and styrene to anionic block copolymerization in n-hexane or cyclohexane as a solvent by using n-butyl lithium as a polymerization catalyst and tetrahydrofuran as a vinyl content adjusting agent. For example, an unmodified block copolymer A-1 was prepared by performing polymerization according to the following procedures. To an n-hexane solution containing 13 parts by weight of butadiene (butadiene concentration, 20% by weight) were added 0.1 part by weight of n-butyl lithium and 5 parts by weight of tetrahydrofuran, and polymerization was carried out at about 60° C. for 1 hour. After substantial completion of the polymerization of butadiene, an n-hexane solution containing 20 parts by weight of styrene (styrene concentration, 20% by weight) was added to the resulting reaction mixture and polymerization was carried out at about 60° C. for 1 hour. After substantial completion of the polymerization of styrene, an n-hexane solution containing 47 parts by weight of butadiene (butadiene concentration, 20% by weight) was added to the resulting reaction mixture and polymerization was carried out at about 60° C. for 1 hour. After substantial completion of the polymerization of butadiene, an n-hexane solution containing 20 parts by weight of styrene (styrene concentration, 20% by weight) was added to the resulting reaction mixture and polymerization was carried out at about 60° C. for 1 hour to obtain the unmodified block copolymer A-1.

When unmodified block copolymers A-4 and A-5 were prepared, silicon tetrachloride was used as a coupling agent.

2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (hereinafter often referred to as "BHT") was added as a stabilizer to each of the unmodified block copolymers shown in Table 1.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Unmodified                                                                              Polymer                                                                              Styrene Content                                                                         Vinyl Content*.sup.2                                                                       Number Average                             Block Copolymer                                                                         Structure*.sup.1                                                                     (% by weight)                                                                           (%) in Butadiene Block                                                                     Molecular Weight                           __________________________________________________________________________     A-1      B-S-B-S                                                                              40       42           64,000                                    A-2                                  55,000                                    A-3      S-B-S 30       38           75,000                                    A-4      Si(B-S).sub.4                                                                        30       48          164,000                                    A-5      Si(B-S).sub.4                                                                        70       53          105,000                                    A-6      S-B'-S                                                                               80       36          120,000                                    __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.1 B stands for a butadiene polymer block, B' stands for a                butadienestyrene random copolymer block, and S stands for a styrene            polymer block.                                                                 *.sup.2 The vinyl content was measured using a nuclear magnetic resonance      apparatus.                                                               

(2) Preparation of Hydrogenated Block Copolymers

The unmodified block copolymer shown in Table 1 was put in an n-hexane/cyclohexane mixed solvent or a cyclohexane solvent, and hydrogenation was carried out at 50° C. under a hydrogen pressure of 7 Kg/cm² for 5 hours using cobalt naphthenate and triethyl aluminum as catalysts, whereby there was obtained a selectively hydrogenated block copolymer in which about 90% of double bonds of the butadiene block were hydrogenated but benzene rings of the styrene block were scarcely hydrogenated. The metals of the catalyst residue were removed by washing with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and methanol.

The hydrogenated block copolymers obtained by thus hydrogenating the unmodified block copolymers A-1 through A-6 shown in Table 1 are designated as hydrogenated block copolymers B-1 through B-6, respectively.

(3) Preparation of Modified Hydrogenated Block Copolymers

To 100 parts by weight of the so-obtained hydrogenated block copolymer was added 1 to 5 parts by weight of maleic anhydride so that a desired amount of maleic anhydride was added to the hydrogenated block copolymer, and 0.1 part by weight of Perhexa 25B [the trade name of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane manufactured and sold by Nippon Yushi K. K., Japan] was added to the mixture, and the mixture was homogeneously blended and supplied to a single screw extruder having a diameter of 20 mm [length/diamete ratio (hereinafter often referred to as "L/D")=24]. The maleinization reaction was carried out at a cylinder temperature of 250° C. to prepare a modified copolymer. Unreacted maleic anhydride was removed from the modified hydrogenated block copolymer by heating under reduced pressure, and BHT was added as a stabilizer in an amount of 0.5 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the modified copolymer. Thus, modified hydrogenated block copolymers shown in Table 2 were prepared. The analysis values of the obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymer are shown in Table 2. The modified hydrogenated block copolymers obtained by hydrogenating and modifying the unmodified block copolymers A-1, A-2, A-4, A-5 and A-6 shown in Table 1 are designated as modified hydrogenated block copolymers C-1, C-2, C-5, C-6 and C-7, respectively. The modified hydrogenated block copolymers obtained by hydrogenating the unmodified block copolymer A-3 and modifying the hydrogenated block copolymer so that the amounts of maleic anhydride grafted onto the hydrogenated block copolymer were 1.2% by weight and 0.7% by weight are designated as modified hydrogenated block copolymers C-3 and C-4, respectively.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                               Amount of*.sup.3                                                                            Tolune-                                                           Maleic Anhydride                                                                            Insoluble                                   Modified              Grafted onto Component                                   Hydrogenated                                                                             Polymer     Hydrogenated Content                                     Block     before      Block Copolymer                                                                             (% by                                       Copolymer Hydrogenation                                                                              (% by weight)                                                                               weight)                                     ______________________________________                                         C-1       A-1         1.4          0.04                                        C-2       A-2         1.8          0.04                                        C-3       A-3         1.2          0.04                                        C-4                   0.7          0.05                                        C-5       A-4         2.3          0.05                                        C-6       A-5         1.2          0.02                                        C-7       A-6         0.5          0.01                                        ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.3 The amount of maleic anhydride grafted onto the hydrogenated bloc      copolymer was measured by the neutralization titration method using sodiu      methylate.                                                               

(4) Preparation of Modified Unhydrogenated Block Copolymers:

Modified unhydrogenated block copolymers D-1, D-2, and D-3 were prepared by grafting maleic anhydride onto the unmodified block copolymers A-2, A-3 and A-5 according to the following procedures.

To 100 parts by weight of the unmodified block copolymer was added 2 to 5 parts by weight of maleic anhydride so that a desired amount of maleic anhydride was grafted onto the unmodified block copolymer, and 0.3 part by weight of BHT and 0.2 part by weight of phenothiazine were added to the mixture. The mixture was homogeneously blended using a mixer.

The mixture was supplied to a single extruder having a diameter of 20 mm (L/D=24) and the maleinization reaction was carried out at a cylinder temperature of 250° C. to prepare a modified copolymer. Unreacted maleic anhydride was removed from the obtained modified copolymer by drying under reduced pressure. Then, 0.5 part by weight of BHT was added to 100 parts by weight of the modified copolymer. Thus, modified unhydrogenated block copolymers shown in Table 3 were prepared. The analysis values of the obtained modified unhydrogenated polymers are shown in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                                   Amount of                                                                      Maleic Anhydride                                                               Grafted onto                                         Modified                  Unmodified                                           Unhydrogenated                                                                               Polymer before                                                                             Block Copolymer                                      Block Copolymer                                                                              Modification                                                                               (% by weight)                                        ______________________________________                                         D-1           A-2         1.8                                                  D-2           A-3         0.7                                                  D-3           A-5         1.2                                                  ______________________________________                                    

(5) Preparation of Ionically Crosslinked Modified Block Copolymer

Ionically crosslinked modified block copolymers E-1 through E-4 were obtained according to a recipe shown in Table 4. When the ionic crosslinking was carried out in a solvent, the solvent was removed by heating after the crosslinking reaction. By the infrared spectrum, it was confirmed that the acid anhydride groups in the samples E-1 through E-4 were ionized.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________                    Ionically Crosslinked Modified Block Copolymer                  Conditions     E-1          E-2      E-3          E-4                          __________________________________________________________________________     Ionic Crosslinking Reaction                                                    Modified Hydrogenated                                                                         C-2          C-5      C-6          C-7                          Block Copolymer                                                                Crosslinking Agent                                                             Kind           CH.sub.3 ONa Mg(OH).sub.2                                                                            Al(OH).sub.3 KOH                          Amount (parts by weight*.sup.4                                                                0.5          0.7      0.5          0.1                          Crosslinking agent/Acid                                                                       0.5          0.5      0.5          0.25                         Anhydride Molar Ratio                                                          Crosslinking Reaction Method                                                                  in toluene solution,                                                                        in molten state,                                                                        in molten state,                                                                            in molten state,                            20 wt. % polymer                                                                            mixing roll, 160° C.,                                                            Brabender Plastograph,                                                                      Brabender Plastograph,                      concentration,                                                                              15 minutes                                                                              200° C., 5 minutes                                                                   200° C., 5                                                              minutes                                     room temperature, 1 hour                                        __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.4 The amount added per 100 parts by weight of the modified               hydrogenated block copolymer.                                            

EXAMPLES 1 AND 2 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 AND 2

A resinous composition was obtained by mixing 80 parts by weight of nylon 6 (number average molecular weight: 18,000) as the polar thermoplastic polymer with 20 parts by weight of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 shown in Table 2 by means of a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28).

Another resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the modified block copolymer C-2 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1.

For comparison, a comparative resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 or C-2.

Another comparative resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-3 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated copolymer C-1 or C-2 or the unmodified block copolymer A-1.

Test pieces were prepared of the so-obtained resinous compositions by injection molding, and the physical properties of the test pieces were measured. The obtained results are shown in Table 5.

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 5, the compositions of the present invention are excellent in compatibility and have a highly improved impact resistance over the comparative compositions.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                                    Com-     Com-                                                                  parative parative                                              Example                                                                               Example  Example  Example                                               1      2        1        2                                          ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    (% by weight)                                                                  Modified     20       --       --     --                                       hydrogenated block                                                             copolymer C-1                                                                  Modified     --       20       --     --                                       hydrogenated block                                                             copolymer C-3                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       20     --                                       copolymer A-1                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       --     20                                       copolymer A-3                                                                  Nylon 6      80       80       80     80                                       Physical properties                                                            Izod impact  21.0     18.5     6.0    5.4                                      strength (Kg · cm/cm,                                                 notched)*.sup.5                                                                Tensile strength                                                                            610      590      450    430                                      (yield point)                                                                  (Kg/cm.sup.2)*.sup.6                                                           Elongation (%)*.sup.6                                                                       115      110      60     56                                       Transparency 13.2     14.5     56.0   58.5                                     (Haze) (%)*.sup.7                                                              ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 The Izod impact strength was measured according to ASTM D256.          *.sup.6 The tensile strength and elongation were measured according to         ASTM D638.                                                                     *.sup.7 The transparency was measured according to JIS K6714.            

EXAMPLE 3 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3

A rubbery composition was obtained by kneading 30 parts by weight of nylon 6 (number average molecular weight: 18,000) as a polar thermoplastic polymer with 70 parts by weight of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 shown in Table 2 for 10 minutes by means of a Brabender Plastograph. Test pieces were prepared of the obtained composition by compression molding, and the physical properties were determined.

For comparison, a comparative rubbery composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1, and test pieces were prepared of the composition and the physical properties were determined.

The obtained results are shown in Table 6.

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 6, the composition of the present invention comprising the modified hydrogenated block copolymer and nylon 6 is highly improved in compatibility over the comparative composition, as is proved by the values of the transparency. Moreover, the composition of the present invention has high tensile strength and modulus and is improved in heat resistance represented by the tensile strength at a high temperature. Furthermore, the composition of the present invention is characterized by a highly improved weatherability.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                                                  Comparative                                                            Example 3                                                                              Example 3                                             ______________________________________                                         Composition (parts by weight)                                                  Modified hydrogenated block                                                                       70        --                                                copolymer C-1                                                                  Unmodified block copolymer A-1                                                                    --        70                                                Nylon 6            30        30                                                Physical properties                                                            25° C.                                                                  Hardness*.sup.8    94        93                                                Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                           195       78                                                (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 300% Modulus*.sup.8 (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                 175       70                                                Elongation*.sup.8  400       330                                               50° C.                                                                  Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                           100       30                                                (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 70° C.                                                                  Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                           70        12                                                (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 Oil resistance*.sup.9 (volume in-                                                                 23        45                                                crease ratio) (%) (oil JIS No.                                                 3, 23° C., 22 hours)                                                    Transparency (Haze) (%)                                                                           15        65                                                Weatherability (%)*.sup.10 (strength                                                              96        34                                                retention after 100 hours'                                                     exposure in weatherometer)                                                     ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.8 The hardness, tensile strength, 300% modulus and elongation were       measured according to JIS K6301.                                               *.sup.9 The oil resistance (volume increase ratio) was measured according      to JIS K6310.                                                                  *.sup.10 The weatherability was evaluated based on the elongation              retention, that is, the ratio of the elongation of the test piece after        100 hours' exposure in the weatherometer (XWWR available from Atlas Co.,       U.S.A.; light irradiation only) to the elongation of the test piece befor      the exposure, and was calculated according to the following formula:           ##STR5##                                                                 

EXAMPLES 4 AND 5 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 4 AND 5

Resinous compositions were prepared in the same manner as in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 except that nylon 66 (number average molecular weight: 20,000) was used instead of nylon 6. In the same manner as in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, test pieces were prepared of the obtained compositions and the physical properties were determined. The obtained results are shown in Table 7.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                                                    Com-     Com-                                                                  parative parative                                              Example                                                                               Example  Example  Example                                               4      5        4        5                                          ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              Modified     20       --       --     --                                       hydrogenated block                                                             copolymer C-1                                                                  Modified     --       20       --     --                                       hydrogenated block                                                             copolymer C-3                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       20     --                                       copolymer A-1                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       --     20                                       copolymer A-3                                                                  Nylon 66     80       80       80     80                                       Physical properties                                                            Izod impact  28       24       7.6    7.0                                      strength*.sup.5 (Kg · cm/                                             cm, notched)                                                                   Tensile strength*.sup.6                                                                     660      630      475    460                                      (yield point)                                                                  (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                  Elongation*.sup.6 (%)                                                                       54       51       45     47                                       Transparency*.sup.7                                                                         14.8     15.2     58.0   61.5                                     (Haze) (%)                                                                     ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.5, *.sup.6, *.sup.7 See the Note under Table 5.                    

EXAMPLES 6 AND 7 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 6 AND 7

A resinous composition was obtained by mixing 80 parts by weight of PBT 1041 (the trade name for polybutylene terephthalate manufactured and sold by Toray Industries Inc., Japan) as a polar thermoplastic polymer with 20 parts by weight of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 shown in Table 2 by means of a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28).

Another resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-3 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1.

For comparison, a comparative resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 or C-3.

Another comparative resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-3 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 or C-3 or the unmodified block copolymer A-1.

Test pieces were prepared of the so-obtained compositions by injection molding, and the physical properties thereof were measured. The obtained results are shown in Table 8.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                                                    Com-     Com-                                                                  parative parative                                              Example                                                                               Example  Example  Example                                               6      7        6        7                                          ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              Modified     20       --       --     --                                       hydrogenated block                                                             copolymer C-1                                                                  Modified     --       20       --     --                                       hydrogenated block                                                             copolymer C-3                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       20     --                                       copolymer A-1                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       --     20                                       copolymer A-3                                                                  Polybutylene 80       80       80     80                                       terephthalate                                                                  Physical properties                                                            Izod impact  5.2      5.6      2.4    2.3                                      strength*.sup.5                                                                (Kg · cm/cm,                                                          notched)                                                                       Tensile strength*.sup.6                                                                     514      532      505    500                                      (yield point)                                                                  (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                  Elongation*.sup.6 (%)                                                                       36       30       28     25                                       Heat distortion                                                                             150      152      152    150                                      temperature*.sup.11                                                            (°C.) (under load                                                       of 4.64 Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                           ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.11 The heat distortion temperature was measured according to ASTM        D648.                                                                          *.sup.5 and *.sup.6 See the Note under Table 5.                          

EXAMPLE 8 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 8

A polyester prepared from ethylene glycol (diol component), terephthalic acid (dicarboxylic acid component) and isophthalic acid (dicarboxylic acid component) and having a softening point of 195° C. and an intrinsic viscosity of 0.75 (as measured at 35° C. in o-chlorophenol) was used as a polar thermoplastic polymer.

A rubbery composition was obtained by mixing 20 parts by weight of the above-mentioned polyester as a polar thermoplastic polymer with 80 parts by weight of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 shown in Table 2 by using a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28).

For comparison, a comparative rubbery composition was prepared in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1 was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1.

Test pieces were prepared of the so-obtained compositions by compression molding, and the physical properties thereof were determined. The obtained results are shown in Table 9.

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                                                  Comparative                                                            Example 8                                                                              Example 8                                             ______________________________________                                         Composition (parts by weight)                                                  Modified hydrogenated block                                                                       80        --                                                copolymer C-1                                                                  Unmodified block copolymer A-1                                                                    --        80                                                Polyester          20        20                                                Physical properties                                                            25° C.                                                                  Hardness*.sup.8    94        92                                                300% modulus*.sup.8 (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                 113       94                                                Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                           280       202                                               (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 Elongation*.sup.8 (%)                                                                             534       420                                               Oil resistance*.sup.9 (%)                                                                         26        48                                                (volume increase)                                                              (oil JIS No. 3, 22 hours)                                                      50° C.                                                                  Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                           182       105                                               (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 Tensile strength retention*.sup.29 (%)                                                            65        52                                                ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.8 and *.sup.9 See the Note under Table 6.                                ##STR6##                                                                 

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 9, the composition of Example 8 comprising the modified hydrogenated block copolymer and the polyester is excellent over the composition of Comparative Example 8 comprising the unmodified block copolymer and the polyester in mechanical properties such as the tensile strength and 300% modulus, the oil resistance and the heat resistance represented by the tensile strength retention at 50° C., and the composition of the present invention is a very valuable material.

EXAMPLES 9 THROUGH 11 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 9 AND 10

A resinous composition was obtained by mixing and kneading EVAL EP-E [the trade name for an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, obtained by saponifying an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, manufactured and sold by Kuraray Co., Ltd., Japan] with the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 shown in Table 2 at a mixing ratio shown in Table 10 by means of a mixing roller.

Another resinous composition was obtained by mixing and kneading 75 parts by weight of EVAL EP-E with 25 parts by weight of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-3 by means of a mixing roller.

A comparative resinous composition was obtained by mixing and kneading 75 parts by weight of EVAL EP-E with 25 parts by weight of the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1 by means of a mixing roll.

Another comparative resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the unmodified block copolymer A-3 shown in Table 1 was used instead of the unmodified block copolymer A-1.

Test pieces were prepared of the so-obtained compositions by compression molding, and the physical properties thereof were determined. The obtained results are shown in Table 10. Furthermore, the adhesion of each composition to high density polyethylene was determined. The obtained results are also shown in Table 10.

                                      TABLE 10                                     __________________________________________________________________________                                    Comparative                                                                           Comparative                                           Example 9                                                                            Example 10                                                                           Example 11                                                                           Example 9                                                                             Example 10                               __________________________________________________________________________     Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              Modified hydrogenated                                                                       25    10    --    --     --                                       block copolymer C-1                                                            Modified hydrogenated                                                                       --    --    25    --     --                                       block copolymer C-3                                                            Unmodified block                                                                            --    --    --    25     --                                       copolymer A-1                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --    --    --    --     25                                       copolymer A-3                                                                  EVAL, EP-E   75    90    75    75     75                                       Physical properties                                                            Melt index (200° C., 5 Kg                                                            5.1   9.6   6.8   24.8   25.6                                     load) (g/10 min)                                                               Izod impact strength*.sup.5                                                                 82.5  12.0  11.1  3.4    3.6                                      (Kg · cm/cm, notched)                                                 Tensile strength*.sup.6 (yield                                                              330   420   382   340    356                                      point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                           Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                     270   318   306   314    320                                      (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 Elongation (%)*.sup.8                                                                       58    75    63    24     21                                       Adhesion to high density                                                                    3.0   1.6   2.1   0.3    0.2                                      polyethylene*.sup.12 (T-peeling                                                strength) (Kg/25 mm)                                                           __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 and *.sup.6 See the Note under Table 5.                                *.sup.8 See the Note under Table 6.                                            *.sup.12 The adhesion to high density polyethylene was determined              according to JIS K6854.                                                  

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 10, the composition of Example 9 comprising the modified hydrogenated block copolymer has a tensile strength (yield point) substantially comparable to that of the composition of Comparative Example 9 comprising the corresponding unmodified block copolymer, but the notched Izod impact strength of the composition of Example 9 is extremely improved over that of the comparative composition.

When the samples of the compositions of Example 9 and Comparative Example 9 were observed by a phase contrast microscope, it was found that in the sample of Example 9, the modified block copolymer is uniformly dispersed in the form of particles having a size of about 0.5 to about 2 μ in the matrix of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, whereas in the sample of Comparative Example 9, unmodified block copolymer particles having a size of about 5 to about 10 μ or larger are dispersed. Accordingly, it has been confirmed that there is a distinct difference of the compatibility between the two samples.

Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the composition of the present invention has an improved adhesion to polyethylene.

EXAMPLES 12 AND 13 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 11 AND 12

Each composition shown in Table 11 was prepared by using a mixing roller. Test pieces were prepared of the obtained composition by compression molding. The physical properties thereof were determined. The obtained results are shown in Table 11.

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                                                    Com-     Com-                                                                  parative parative                                              Example                                                                               Example  Example  Example                                               12     13       11       12                                         ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              Modified hydro-                                                                             75       90       --     --                                       genated block                                                                  copolymer C-1                                                                  Unmodified block                                                                            --       --       75     90                                       copolymer A-1                                                                  EVAL EP-E    25       10       25     10                                       Physical properties                                                            Melt index (200° C.,                                                                 5.7      2.8      17.0   13.5                                     5 Kg load)                                                                     (g/10 min)                                                                     Hardness*.sup.8                                                                             89       87       87     87                                       300% modulus*.sup.8                                                                         86       82       44     31                                       (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                  Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                     196      205      178    190                                      (breaking point)                                                               (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                  Oil resistance*.sup.30                                                                      23       48       53     54                                       (weight increase                                                               (%) (oil JIS No.                                                               3, 24 hours'                                                                   dipping)                                                                       Adhesion to high                                                                            7.4      6.2      1.6    1.7                                      density poly-                                                                  ethylene*.sup.12                                                               (T-peeling                                                                     strength)                                                                      (Kg/25 mm)                                                                     ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.8 See the Note under Table 6.                                            *.sup.12 See the Note under Table 10.                                          *.sup.30 The oil resistance was determined according to JIS K6310.       

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 11, the modulus of the composition of the present invention is highly improved and the oil resistance is remarkably improved by addition of a small amount of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. Moreover, the adhesion to polyethylene is improved with respect to the composition of the present invention.

EXAMPLES 14 THROUGH 16 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 13 THROUGH 15

Compositions of the present invention and comparative compositions were obtained by mixing Paraplene P-22 SM (the trade name for a thermoplastic polyurethane manufactured and sold by Nippon Polyurethane Co., Ltd., Japan) as a polar thermoplastic polymer according to the recipe shown in Table 12 by means of a Brabender Plastograph.

Each of the obtained compositions was press-bonded at 180° C. to a polyvinyl chloride sheet or a high density polyethylene sheet and the peeling strength was measured according to JIS K-6854. The obtained results are shown in Table 12.

                                      TABLE 12                                     __________________________________________________________________________                    Example                                                                             Example                                                                             Example                                                                             Comparative                                                                           Comparative                                                                           Comparative                                       14   15   16   Example 13                                                                            Example 14                                                                            Example 15                         __________________________________________________________________________     Composition (parts by weight)                                                  Modified hydrogenated                                                                         10   60   90   --     --     --                                 block copolymer C-1                                                            Unmodified block                                                                              --   --   --   10     60     90                                 copolymer A-1                                                                  Polyurethane (Para-                                                                           90   40   10   90     40     10                                 plene P-22 SM)                                                                 Adhesion to polyvinyl                                                                         9.2  8.9  6.0  8.0    2.8    0.9                                chloride (90° peeling strength)                                         (Kg/25 mm)                                                                     Adhesion to polyethylene                                                                      8.3  12.1 13.0 1.2    2.0    3.7                                (180° peeling strength)                                                 (Kg/25 mm)                                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 12, the composition of the present invention has excellent adhesion characteristics to polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene sheets within a broad mixing ratio. In contrast, the adhesiveness of the comparative composition is inferior to that of the corresponding composition of the present invention.

EXAMPLES 17 AND 18

A mixture obtained by impregnating 100 parts by weight of the hydrogenated block copolymer B-1 used for formation of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 shown in Table 2 (obtained by hydrogenating the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1) with 2.5 parts by weight of acrylic acid was homogeneously mixed with 0.1 part by weight of Perhexa 25B [the trade name of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexane available from Nippon Yushi K. K., Japan]. The obtained mixture was supplied into a screw type extruder having a diameter of 20 mm (single, L/D=24) and the reaction was carried out at a cylinder temperature of 210° C. to modify the hydrogenated block copolymer B-1. Unreacted acrylic acid was removed from the obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymer by heating under reduced pressure. Then, BHT was added as a stabilizer in an amount of 0.5 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the obtained polymer. The so-obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymer is designated as " F-1".

A modified hydrogenated block copolymer was prepared in the same manner as described above except that the hydrogenated block copolymer B-3 used for formation of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-3 (obtained by hydrogenating the unmodified block copolymer A-3 shown in Table 1) was used instead of the hydrogenated block copolymer B-1. The obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymer is designated as "F-2".

The analysis values of the so-obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymers are shown in Table 13.

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Modified        Amount (% by         Toluene-                                  hydro- Polymer  weight) of acrylic   insoluble                                 genated                                                                               before   acid grafted onto                                                                           Melt index                                                                             component                                 block  hydro-   hydrogenated (200° C.,                                                                       content (%                                copolymer                                                                             genation block copolymer                                                                             5 Kg load)                                                                             by weight)                                ______________________________________                                         F-1    A-1      2.05         1.1     0.05                                      F-2    A-3      1.87         0.9     0.05                                      ______________________________________                                    

The amount of grafted onto the hydrogenated block copolymer was measured by the neutralizing titration method using sodium methylate.

A resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described in Examples 4 and 5 except that F-1 was used as the modified hydrogenated block copolymer.

Another resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that F-2 was used as the modified hydrogenated block copolymer.

In the same manner as described in Examples 4 and 5, test pieces were prepared of the so-obtained compositions, and the physical properties thereof were measured. The obtained results are shown in Table 14.

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                                          Example 17                                                                             Example 18                                            ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              Modified hydrogenated block                                                                       20        --                                                copolymer F-1                                                                  Modified hydrogenated block                                                                       --        20                                                copolymer F-2                                                                  Nylon 66           80        80                                                Physical properties                                                            Izod impact strength*.sup.5                                                                       32        29                                                (Kg · cm/cm, notched)                                                 Tensile strength*.sup.6                                                                           670       650                                               (yield point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                       50        49                                                Elongation*.sup.6 (%)                                                          Transparency*.sup.7 (Haze) (%)                                                                    17.3      19.1                                              ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.5, *.sup.6 and *.sup.7 See the Note under Table 5.                 

As will readily be understood from the results shown in Table 14, the compositions of the present invention comprising modified hydrogenated block copolymers have improved impact strengths as compared with the compositions of Comparative Examples 4 and 5 (see Table 7).

EXAMPLES 19 AND 20 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 16 THROUGH 21

Compositions were prepared by mixing block copolymers shown in Table 15 with the same nylon 66 as used in Examples 4 and 5 or the same EVAL EP-E as used in Examples 9 through 11, and the Izod impact strength was measured and the weather-ability test and the heat aging resistance test were carried out.

It was confirmed that the compositions of the present invention are excellent in impact resistance, weatherability and resistance to heat aging.

                                      TABLE 15                                     __________________________________________________________________________                         Comparative   Comparative                                                 Example                                                                             Example  Example                                                                             Example                                                     19   16 17 18 20   19 20 21                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Composition (Parts by weight)                                                  Block Copolymer                                                                Kind           C-3  A-3                                                                               B-3                                                                               D-2                                                                               C-2  A-2                                                                               B-2                                                                               D-1                                    Amount         20            25                                                Thermoplastic Resin                                                            Kind           nylon 66      EVAL EP-E                                         Amount         80            75                                                Izod Impact Strength*.sup.5                                                                   24   7.0                                                                               8.1                                                                               22 85   3.4                                                                               3.9                                                                               82                                     (Kg · cm/cm, Notched)                                                 Weatherability*.sup.3 (%)                                                                     72   42 71 45 83   54 80 59                                     Heat aging Resistance*.sup.14 (%)                                                             80   51 78 55 77   48 75 51                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 See the Note under Table 5.                                            *.sup.13 Before and after 500 hours' exposure (light irradiation only) in      a weatherometer (XWWR available from Atlas Co., U.S.A.), the Izod impact       strength (unnotched) of the test pieces was measured, and the                  weatherability was evaluated based on the Izod impact strength retention       after the exposure in the weatherometer, which was calculated according t      the following formula:                                                         ##STR7##                                                                       *.sup.14 Before and after standing in air at 100° C. for one month      the Izod impact strength (unnotched) of the test pieces was measured, and      the resistance to thermal deterioration was evaluated based on the Izod        impact strength retention, which was calculated according to the followin      formula:                                                                       ##STR8##                                                                 

EXAMPLE 21 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 22

A modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1' having maleic anhydride grafted onto the hydrogenated block copolymer in an amount of 4.1% by weight was prepared in the same manner as adopted for the production of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1 except that 7 parts by weight of maleic anhydride was incorporated into 100 parts by weight of the hydrogenated block copolymer B-1 (obtained by hydrogenating the unmodified block copolymer A-1 shown in Table 1).

A modified ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber G-1 was prepared in the same manner as described above except that JSR EP57P (the trade name of an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber manufactured and sold by Nippon Gosei Gomu K.K., Japan) was used instead of the hydrogenated block copolymer B-1. The amount of maleic anhydride grafted was 3.0% by weight.

A resinous composition was obtained by mixing 20 parts by weight of the so-obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1' with 80 parts by weight of the same nylon-66 as used in Examples 4 and 5 by means of a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28).

A comparative resinous composition was obtained in the same manner as described above except that the modified ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber G-1 as prepared above was used instead of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-1'.

Test pieces were prepared of the obtained compositions by injection molding, and the physical properties thereof were determined. Furthermore, test pieces having a thickness of 0.5 mm were prepared of the compositions, and the transparency was measured. The obtained results are shown in Table 16. From the results shown in Table 16, it is apparent that the composition of the present invention is excellent in transparency and impact resistance.

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                                         Example   Comparative                                                          21        Example 22                                           ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              Modified hydrogenated                                                                            20          --                                               block copolymer C-1'                                                           Modified ethylene-propylene                                                                      --          20                                               copolymer rubber G-1                                                           Nylon 66          80          80                                               Physical Properties                                                            Izod impact strength*.sup.5                                                                      75          68                                               (Kg · cm/cm, notched)                                                 Tensile strength*.sup.6                                                                          630         635                                              (yield point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                    Elongation (%)*.sup.6                                                                            35          30                                               Transparency (Haze) (%)*.sup.7                                                                   23.1        38.5                                             ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.5, *.sup.6 and *.sup.7 See the Note under Table 5.                 

EXAMPLES 22 THROUGH 27 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 23 THROUGH 26

Compositions comprising Surlyn A-1706 (the trade name of a partially metal-crosslinked ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer available from Du Pont Co., U.S.A.) as the component (a) were prepared by mixing according to the recipe shown in Table 17 by means of rollers. The physical properties of the test pieces prepared from these compositions by compression molding are shown in Table 17.

As will be readily understood from the results shown in Table 17, the composition of the present invention is improved over the comparative compositions in tensile strength and oil resistance. Incidentally, in Examples 22 through 27, it was confirmed by an infrared spectrophotometer that the acid anhydride groups in the modified block copolymer participated in the ionic crosslinking.

Then, the adhesion of each composition to an aluminum plate was examined. It was found that the compositions of the present invention are excellent over the comparative compositions in adhesive properties. The compositions of the present invention have a good adhesion even after immersion in water, and this is a great characteristic not possessed by the comparative compositions.

                                      TABLE 17                                     __________________________________________________________________________                                             Comparative Example                                    Example No.             No.                                                    22  23  24  25  26  27  23  24  25   26                        __________________________________________________________________________     Composition                                                                    Component (a)                                                                  Amount (% by weight)                                                                           30  20  10  30   20 10  30  20  10  --                         Component (b)                                                                  Kind            C-2 C-2 C-5 E-1  E-1                                                                               E-2 B-2 B-2 B-4 B-2                        Amount (% by weight)                                                                           70  80  90  70   80 90  70  80  90  100                        Physical Properties                                                            300% Modulus*.sup.8 (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                              64  57  55  70   65 60  51  45  44  35                         Tensile strength*.sup.8                                                                        205 187 243 230  213                                                                               255 153 167 210 180                        (breaking point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                 Oil resistance*.sup.28 (weight                                                                 13  18  30  10   15 25  42  51  72  60                         increase) (%)                                                                  Adhesion to aluminium plate*.sup.31                                            (peeling strength) (Kg/25 mm)                                                  Before Immersion in Water                                                                      21.0                                                                               17.3                                                                               28.5                                                                               23.6 19.5                                                                              33.1                                                                               1.8 1.3 0.9 0.5                        After Immersion in Water                                                                       6.3 5.2 8.4 7.1  5.7                                                                               9.8 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1                        __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.8 See the Note under Table 6.                                            *.sup.28 See the Note under Table 11.                                          *.sup.31 The adhesion was measured under the following conditions              according to the following method.                                             Measurement method: JIS K6854                                                  Bonding conditions: temperature of 200° C., compression pressure o      20 Kg/cm.sup.2 -                                                               Immersion conditions: room temperature (about 20° C.), 24 hours, i      water                                                                    

EXAMPLES 28 THROUGH 33 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 27 THROUGH 30

Compositions comprising Copolene QD-400 (the trade name of a partially metal-crosslinked ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer manufactured and sold by Asahi Dow Co., Japan) as the component (a) were obtained by mixing according to the recipe shown in Table 18 by means of mixing rolls. The physical properties of the test pieces prepared of the obtained compositions by compression molding are shown in Table 18. Then, the adhesion of each composition to nylon (undrawn sheet of nylon 6) was examined. The obtained results are shown in Table 18.

From the results shown in Table 18, it is apparent that the compositions of the present invention are excellent over the comparative compositions in tensile strength and adhesiveness.

                                      TABLE 18                                     __________________________________________________________________________                                            Comparative                                            Example No.             Example No.                                            28  29  30  31  32  33  27  28  29                              __________________________________________________________________________     Composition                                                                    Component (a)                                                                  Amount (% by weight)                                                                          80  70  60  80  70  60  80  70  60                              Component (b)                                                                  Kind           C-5 C-6 C-2 E-2 E-3 E-1 A-4 A-5 A-2                             Amount (% by weight)                                                                          20  30  40  20  30  40  20  30  40                              Physical Properties                                                            Tensile Strength*.sup.6 (yield                                                                270 250 220 285 265 235 245 230 200                             point) (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                           Adhesion to nylon sheet*.sup.32                                                (peeling strength) (Kg/25 mm)                                                  Before Immersion in Water                                                                     5.1 3.7 7.0 6.5 4.6 9.4 1.2 1.0 1.1                             After Immersion in Water                                                                      3.4 2.8 5.4 4.7 3.1 6.2 0.2 0.1 0.1                             __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.6 See the Note under Table 5.                                            *.sup.32 The adhesion was measured under the following conditions              according to the following method.                                             Measurement method: JIS K6854                                                  Bonding conditions: temperature of 200° C., compression pressure o      20 Kg/cm.sup.2 -                                                               Immersion conditions: room temperature (about 20° C.), 24 hours, i      water                                                                    

EXAMPLES 34 THROUGH 43 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 30 THROUGH 41

Compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a block copolymer, as shown in Table 19, were prepared. More specifically, 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polymer was sufficiently mixed with 10 parts by weight of a block copolymer by a Henschel mixer, and the mixture was pelletized by a screw type extruder having a diameter of 40 mm (single, L/D=28). A flat plate having a size of 120 mm×120 mm×3 mm was prepared from the pelletized composition by injection molding. The obtained flat plate was degreased with methyl alcohol, spray-coated with Acryca B160 (the trade name of an acrylic resin paint available from Kawakami Toryo K.K., Japan), and naturally dried. In case of the composition comprising a polyoxymethylene or nitrile resin as the thermoplastic polymer, the plate was, instead of being degreased with methyl alcohol, immersed in a 0.1N hydrochloric acid solution for 30 seconds and spray-washed with water.

Each resulting plate was subjected to the paint adhesion test. The obtained results are shown in Table 19. As is apparent from the results shown in Table 19, the compositions of the present invention are excellent in paint adhesion.

                  TABLE 19                                                         ______________________________________                                                                             Paint                                               Kind of Block Kind of Thermo-                                                                             Ad-                                                 Copolymer     plastic Polymer*.sup.15                                                                     hesion*.sup.19                             ______________________________________                                         Example 34                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PO           ◯                                       genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 35                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PC           ⊚                                    genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 36                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PS           ⊚                                    genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 37                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              NR           ◯                                       genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 38                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PPE          ⊚                                    genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 39                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              GPPE         ⊚                                    genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 40                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PPS          ⊚                                    genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 41                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PC + PET*.sup.16                                                                            ◯                                       genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 42                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PS + PA*.sup.17                                                                             ◯                                       genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Example 43                                                                              modified hydro-                                                                              PO + TPET*.sup.18                                                                           ◯                                       genated block                                                                  copolymer C-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             unmodified block                                                                             PO           X                                          Example 30                                                                              copolymer A-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             unmodified block                                                                             PC           Δ                                    Example 31                                                                              copolymer A-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             unmodified block                                                                             PS           Δ                                    Example 32                                                                              copolymer A-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             unmodified block                                                                             NR           X                                          Example 33                                                                              copolymer A-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             unmodified block                                                                             PPE          ◯                              Example 34                                                                              copolymer A-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             unmodified block                                                                             PPS          Δ                                    Example 35                                                                              copolymer A-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             hydrogenated block                                                                           PO           X                                          Example 36                                                                              copolymer B-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             hydrogenated block                                                                           PC           Δ                                    Example 37                                                                              copolymer B-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             hydrogenated block                                                                           PS           Δ                                    Example 38                                                                              copolymer B-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             hydrogenated block                                                                           NR           X                                          Example 39                                                                              copolymer B-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             hydrogenated block                                                                           PPE          ◯                              Example 40                                                                              copolymer B-2                                                         Comparative                                                                             hydrogenated block                                                                           PPS          Δ                                    Example 41                                                                              copolymer B-2                                                         ______________________________________                                         Note:                                                                          *.sup.15 The thermoplastic polymers used are as follows (PS,                   PPE and PPS are products of companies in U.S.A. and other                      resins are products of Japanese companies):                                    ______________________________________                                         Abbrevi-                                                                       ation  Thermoplastic Polymer                                                                          Maker      Trade Name                                   ______________________________________                                         PC     polycarbonate   Teijin Kasei                                                                              Panlite                                                                        L-1225                                       PS     polysulfone     ICI        Polyether                                                                      Sulfone 200P                                 PPE    polyphenylene ether                                                                            General    Noryl 701                                                           Electric                                                GPPE   styrene-grafted Asahi-Dow  Xylon 500H                                          polyphenylene ether                                                     PPS    polyphenylene sulfide                                                                          Phillips   Ryton R-6                                                           Petroleum                                               PBT    polybutylene    Toray      PBT 1041                                            terephthalate                                                           TPET   thermoplastic   Toyobo     Pelprene                                            polyester                  P150B                                        PA     polyamide       Toray      Amilan                                                                         CM-1017                                      ABS    acrylonitrile-butadi-                                                                          Asahi-Dow  Stylac 181                                          ene styrene copolymer                                                   HIPS   impact-resistant                                                                               Asahi-Dow  Styron 492                                          rubber modified                                                                polystyrene                                                             ______________________________________                                         PO: polyoxymethylene (polyoxymethylene diacetate having                        a melt index of about 10 g/10 min as measured at                               210° C. under a load of 2.16 kg was used)                               NR: nitrile resin [acrylonitrile/styrene (90/10)                               copolymer having a melt index of about 1 g/10 min                              as measured at 190° C. under a load of 12.5 kg was used]                *.sup.16 A mixture of PC/PET (2/1 weight ratio) was used as the                thermoplastic polymer.                                                         *.sup.17 A mixture of PS/PA (2/1 weight ratio) was used as the                 thermoplastic polymer.                                                         *.sup.18 A mixture of PO/TPET (4/1 weight ratio) was used as                   thermoplastic polymer.                                                         *.sup.19 Eleven cut lines having an interval of 1 mm were formed               with a knife on the coated surface of the flat plate in                        both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction                      to form 100 cut squares. A pressure sensitive adhesive cellophane              tape was applied to the coated surface and the tape was                        peeled off in the vertical direction. The adhesiveness                         was evaluated based on the number of cut squares peeled                        together with the tape.                                                        ⊚: up to 10 of peeled squares                                   ◯: 11 to 20 of peeled squares                                      Δ: 21 to 40 of peeled squares                                            X: 41 or more of peeled squares                                                ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES 44 THROUGH 47 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 42 THROUGH 53

Compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a block copolymer, shown in Table 20, were prepared in the following manner. Namely, 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polymer was mixed with 50 parts by weight of a block copolymer by a screw type extruder having a diameter of 40 mm (single L/D=28) and the mixture was pelletized. Test pieces were prepared of the pelletized composition by injection molding. The Izod impact strength and gloss thereof were measured and the weatherability and heat aging tests were carried out. The obtained results are shown in Table 20. In Table 20, there are also shown the values of the gloss measured for the test pieces of the composition comprising the ionic crosslinking product E-3 of the modified block copolymer C-6, which was used as a block copolymer. From the results shown in Table 20, it is seen that the compositions of the present invention are excellent in weatherability and heat aging resistance as expressed in strength retention.

                                      TABLE 20                                     __________________________________________________________________________                                 Izod Impact                                                                    Strength*.sup.5      Heat Aging                                        Thermoplastic                                                                          (Kg · cm/cm,                                                                 Gloss*.sup.20                                                                       Weatherability*.sup.21                                                                  Resistance*.sup.14                   Block Copolymer                                                                             Polymer notched)                                                                              (%)  (%)      (%)                           __________________________________________________________________________     Example 44                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                       PC      38.6   70 (75)                                                                             73       78                                   block copolymer C-6                                                     Example 45                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                       PS      10.4   61 (68)                                                                             76       80                                   block copolymer C-6                                                     Example 46                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                       GPPE    29.5   71 (77)                                                                             74       87                                   block copolymer C-6                                                     Example 47                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                       PPS     4.6    62 (70)                                                                             79       85                                   block copolymer C-6                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified   PC      29.1   63   31       45                            Example 42                                                                            block copolymer A-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified   PS      6.3    55   34       47                            Example 43                                                                            block copolymer A-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified   GPPE    24.2   66   36       55                            Example 44                                                                            block copolymer A-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified   PPS     2.5    57   40       54                            Example 45                                                                            block copolymer A-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           hydrogenated PC      30.0   64   72       76                            Example 46                                                                            block copolymer B-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           hydrogenated PS      6.9    54   74       79                            Example 47                                                                            block copolymer B-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           hydrogenated GPPE    25.0   67   74       87                            Example 48                                                                            block copolymer B-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           hydrogenated PPS     2.8    55   79       85                            Example 49                                                                            block copolymer B-5                                                     Comparative                                                                           modified unhydrogenated                                                                     PC      34.5   70   32       47                            Example 50                                                                            block copolymer D-3                                                     Comparative                                                                           modified unhydrogenated                                                                     PS      8.5    60   34       47                            Example 51                                                                            block copolymer D-3                                                     Comparative                                                                           modified unhydrogenated                                                                     GPPE    27.0   71   38       56                            Example 52                                                                            block copolymer D-3                                                     Comparative                                                                           modified unhydrogenated                                                                     PPS     3.5    60   41       54                            Example 53                                                                            block copolymer D-3                                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 See the Note under Table 5.                                            *.sup.14 See the Note under Table 15.                                          *.sup.20 The gloss was measured according to the method of JIS Z8741. Eac      parenthesized value in Table 20 is the value of gloss measured with            respect to the composition comprising the ionic crosslinking product E3 o      the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C6 instead of the copolymer C6.      *.sup.21 After and before 1000 hours' exposure (light irradiation only) i      a weatherometer (XWWR manufactured and sold by Atlas Co., U.S.A.), the         Izod impact strength (unnotched) of test pieces was measured, and the Izo      impact retention after the exposure in the weatherometer was calculated        according to the following formula:                                            ##STR9##                                                                 

EXAMPLES 48 THROUGH 51 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 54 THROUGH 57

Compositions of the present invention and comparative compositions were prepared according to the recipes shown in Table 21 by using a screw type extruder having a diameter of 40 mm (single, L/D=28). Test pieces were prepared of the obtained compositions by injection molding, and the Izod impact strength thereof was measured. The obtained results are shown in Table 21. From the results shown in Table 21, it is seen that the composition of the present invention is excellent in impact resistance. Incidentally, polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight of about 220,000 was used in Example 50 and Comparative Example 56.

                                      TABLE 21                                     __________________________________________________________________________                   Example No.       Comparative Example No.                                      48  49  50    51  54  55  56    57                               __________________________________________________________________________     Block Copolymer                                                                Kind          modified hydrogenated                                                                            unmodified block                                             block copolymer C-5                                                                              copolymer A-4                                  Amount (% by weight)                                                                         10  20  20    10  10  20  20    10                               Thermoplastic polymer*.sup.15                                                  First Component                                                                Kind          PC  PS  GPPE  PPS PC  PS  GPPE  PPS                              Amount (% by weight)                                                                         70  60  65    70  70  60  65    70                               Second Component                                                               Kind          ABS HIPS                                                                               polystyrene                                                                          HIPS                                                                               ABS HIPS                                                                               polystyrene                                                                          HIPS                             Amount (% by weight)                                                                         20  20  15    20  20  20  15    20                               Izod Impact     46.1                                                                               19.0                                                                               35.3                                                                                 16.5                                                                               35.2                                                                               13.4                                                                               29.6                                                                                 10.7                           Strength*.sup.5 (Kg · cm/                                             cm, notched)                                                                   __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 See the Note under Table 5.                                            *.sup.15 See the Note under Table 19.                                    

EXAMPLES 52 AND 53 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 58 AND 59

The unmodified block copolymer A-5 was hydrogenated according to the same method as adopted for production of the hydrogenated block copolymers B-1 through B-6 to obtain two hydrogenated block copolymers having hydrogenation degrees of about 86% and about 60%, respectively. The hydrogenated block copolymers were modified according to the same method as adopted for production of the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-6 to obtain modified hydrogenated block copolymers C-6' and C-6" having a hydrogenation degree different from that of C-6. Compositions comprising the modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-6, the obtained modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-6' or C-6" or the modified unhydrogenated block copolymer D-3 were obtained according to the recipe shown in Table 22 by using a screw type extruder having a diameter of 40 mm (single, L/D=28). Test pieces were prepared of the obtained compositions by injection molding, and the weatherability and heat aging tests were carried out. The obtained results are shown in Table 22.

From the results shown in Table 22, it is seen that when a modified block copolymer prepared from a block copolymer having a hydrogenation degree lower than 80% (an ethylenic unsaturation degree exceeding 20%) is used, the weatherability and resistance to heat aging are degraded.

                  TABLE 22                                                         ______________________________________                                                                   Comparative                                                          Example   Example                                                             52     53     58       59                                       ______________________________________                                         Unhydrogenated polymer                                                                           A-5                                                          used for formation of                                                          modified block copolymer                                                       Hydrogenation degree (%)                                                                        90       86     60     0                                      Amount (% by weight) of                                                                         1.2      1.3    1.3    1.2                                    maleic anhydride grafted                                                       onto the block copolymer                                                       Composition                                                                    (parts by weight)                                                              modified block   C-6      C-6'   C-6"   D-3                                    copolymer                                                                      amount           50       50     50     50                                     thermoplastic    PC       PC     PC     PC                                     polymer*.sup.15                                                                amount           100      100    100    100                                    Weatherability*.sup.21 (%)                                                                      73       70     53     32                                     Heat aging       78       71     55     47                                     resistance*.sup.14 (%)                                                         ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.15 See the Note under Table 19.                                          *.sup.21 See the Note under Table 20.                                          *.sup.14 See the Note under Table 15.                                    

EXAMPLES 54 AND 55

Compositions of the present invention containing a glass fiber were prepared according to the recipe shown in Table 23 by using a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28). Test pieces were prepared of the obtained compositions by injection molding, and the Izod impact strength was measured. The obtained results are shown in Table 23.

                  TABLE 23                                                         ______________________________________                                                          Example 54                                                                               Example 55                                          ______________________________________                                         Composition (parts by weight)                                                  modified hydrogenated block                                                                       30          --                                              copolymer C-6                                                                  modified hydrogenated block                                                                       --          10                                              copolymer C-4                                                                  thermoplastic polymer PS*.sup.15                                                                  40          --                                              thermoplastic polymer PPE*.sup.15                                                                 --          70                                              glass fiber*.sup.22                                                                               30          20                                              Physical Property                                                              Izod impact strength*.sup.5                                                                       12.5        23.1                                            (Kg · cm/cm, notched)                                                 ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 See the Note under Table 5.                                            *.sup.15 See the Note under Table 19.                                          *.sup.22 CS 99A401 (the trade name of a glass fiber manufactured and sold      by Nittobo Co., Japan) was used.                                         

EXAMPLES 56 THROUGH 63 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 60 THROUGH 66

Compositions of the present invention and comparative compositions comprising a block copolymer and a thermoplastic polymer, shown in Table 24, were prepared according to the recipe shown below by using a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28) for kneading.

    ______________________________________                                                                 Amount                                                 Composition Recipe      (parts by weight)                                      ______________________________________                                         modified hydrogenated block copolymer                                                                  100                                                    C-2 or unmodified block copolymer A-2                                          thermoplastic polymer*.sup.23                                                                          50                                                     Shellflex 311 (the trade name of a                                                                     50                                                     naphthene type process oil manufac-                                            tured and sold by Sankyo Yuka                                                  Co., Ltd., Japan)                                                              titanium oxide          1                                                      stabilizer*.sup.24      0.7                                                    ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.23 A powdery product having a particle size of about 50 mesh, which      was obtained by freezepulverizing the pelletized thermoplastic polymer,        was used.                                                                      *.sup.24 2,2'-Methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) was used as the       stabilizer.                                                              

Test pieces of the obtained compositions were prepared by molding, and the tensile strength, abrasion resistance and compression permanent strain thereof were determined. The obtained results are shown in Table 24.

From the results shown in Table 24, it is seen that the composition of the present invention is excellent over the comparative composition comprising an unmodified block copolymer in tensile strength, abrasion resistance and resistance to compression permanent strain.

According to the method described in the Note *10 under Table 6, the weatherability test was carried out. It was found that the test pieces of the compositions of Examples 56 through 63, after the weatherability test, substantially retained the characteristics and rubbery elasticity, while with respect to the test pieces of the compositions of Comparative Examples 62 through 68, the elongation retention at the tensile test was lower than 30% and the rubbery elasticity was lost, showing considerable deterioration.

                                      TABLE 24                                     __________________________________________________________________________                               Tensile*.sup.8                                                                      Abrasion                                                                              Compression Permanent                                      Thermoplastic                                                                          Strength                                                                            Resistance*.sup.25                                                                    Strain (%)*.sup.26                              Block Copolymer                                                                           polymer (Kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                       (index)                                                                               20° C.                                                                      60° C.                                                                      20° C.*.sup.27                                                               60° C.*.sup.27       __________________________________________________________________________     Example 56                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PO      128  135    20  33  12   22                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 57                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PC      140  150    18  30  10   20                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 58                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PS      133  145    17  25  10   12                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 59                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     NR      125  130    21  32  11   21                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 60                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PPE     140  160    17  27  12   20                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 61                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PPS     137  145    18  26  10   16                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 62                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PC + PBT*.sup.28                                                                       131  130    19  32  11   21                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Example 63                                                                            modified hydrogenated                                                                     PS + PA*.sup.28                                                                        128  130    20  35  13   20                                 block copolymer C-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified PO       93   80    36  58  --   --                          Example 60                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified PC      102  100    30  53  --   --                          Example 61                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified PS       97   90    34  47  --   --                          Example 62                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified NR       90   70    28  51  --   --                          Example 63                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified PPE     100  100    32  54  --   --                          Example 64                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified PPS      98   90    34  51  --   --                          Example 65                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     Comparative                                                                           unmodified polystyrene                                                                            120  100    27  63  --   --                          Example 66                                                                            block copolymer A-2                                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.25 The abrasion resistance was determined according to the method o      ASTMD-2228, and there is shown a relative value calculated based on the        supposition that the abrasion of the composition of Comparative Example 6      comprising polystyrene as the thermoplastic polymer was 100. A larger          value indicates a better abrasion resistanct.                                  *.sup.26 The measurement was carried out at a compression ratio of 2.5%        for a compression time of 22 hours according to JIS K6301.                     *.sup.27 At the step of extrusion kneading, 0.5 part by weight of zinc         stearate was further added per 100 parts by weight of the sample C2, and       the compression permanent strain of the resulting composition comprising       the ionic crosslinking product of the modified block copolymer was             measured.                                                                      *.sup.28 A mixture of PC/PBT (mixing weight ratio = 2/1) and a mixture of      PS/PA (mixing weight ratio = 2/1) were used as the thermoplastic polymer.

EXAMPLES 64 AND 65 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 67

Compositions comprising Surlyn A-1706 (the trade name of a partially metal-crosslinked ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer available from Du Pont Co., U.S.A.) as the component (a) were prepared according to the recipe shown in Table 25 by using mixing rolls. Test pieces of the obtained compositions were prepared by compression molding and the Izod impact strength thereof was measured to obtain results shown in Table 25, from which it is seen that the compositions of the present invention have an excellent Izod impact strength.

                  TABLE 25                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Example                                                                               Example  Comparative                                                    64     65       Example 67                                        ______________________________________                                         Composition                                                                    component (a)                                                                  amount (% by weight)                                                                          20       20       20                                            component (b)                                                                  kind           C-7      E-4      B-6                                           amount (% by weight)                                                                          80       80       80                                            Izod Impact Strength*.sup.5                                                                   6.5      8.7      4.2                                           (Kg · cm/cm, notched)                                                 ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *.sup.5 See the Note under Table 5.                                      

EXAMPLES 66 THROUGH 68 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 68 THROUGH 72

Compositions comprising a modified block copolymer and Evaflex 150 (the trade name of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer available from Mitsui Polychemical Co., Ltd., Japan), as shown in Table 26, were prepared by using a screw type extruder having a diameter of 40 mm (single, L/D=28), and these compositions were tested with respect to the adhesiveness to an aluminum plate. The obtained results are shown in Table 26.

The modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-8 shown in Table 26 was prepared in the following manner.

A block copolymer of the S-B-S type having a styrene content of 20% by weight, a number average molecular weight of about 100,000 and a vinyl content in the butadiene block of about 35% was hydrogenated to obtain a hydrogenated block copolymer B-7 (having a hydrogenation degree of about 90%). The obtained copolymer B-7 was modified with maleic anhydride to obtain a modified hydrogenated block copolymer C-8 (the amount of maleic anhydride grafted onto the hydrogenated block copolymer was 0.25% by weight).

                                      TABLE 26                                     __________________________________________________________________________                    Example No.                                                                             Comparative Example No.                                               66 67 68 68 69 70 71  72                                        __________________________________________________________________________     Composition                                                                    Component (a)                                                                  Evaflex 150                                                                    Amount (% by weight)                                                                          40 70 20 40 70 20 100 --                                        Component (b)                                                                  Kind           C-1                                                                               C-1                                                                               C-8                                                                               B-1                                                                               B-1                                                                               B-7                                                                               --  B-1                                       Amount (% by weight)                                                                          60 30 80 60 30 80 --  100                                       Adhesion to aluminium*.sup.31                                                  (peeling strength) (Kg/25 mm)                                                  Before Immersion in Water                                                                     13.2                                                                              6.5                                                                               3.5                                                                               1.5                                                                               1.1                                                                               1.7                                                                               1.0 2.0                                       After Immersion in Water                                                                      3.1                                                                               1.8                                                                               1.9                                                                               0.3                                                                               0.2                                                                               0.4                                                                               0.1 0.5                                       __________________________________________________________________________      Note:                                                                          *.sup.31 See the Note under Table 17.                                    

EXAMPLE 69

The hydrogenated block copolymer B-1 was supplied into a screw type extruder having a diameter of 30 mm (twin, L/D=28), and simultaneously, 0.1 part by weight of Perhexa 25B [the trade name of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane available from Nippon Yushi K.K., Japan] and 35 parts by weight of maleic anhydride, per 100 parts by weight of the hydrogenated block copolymer B-1, were supplied through the side supply inlet provided on the cylinder portion of the extruder. The maleinization reaction was carried out at a cylinder temperature of 250° C. The obtained block copolymer (C-9) was treated and analyzed in the same manner as described hereinbefore. It was found that the amount of maleic anhydride grafted onto the hydrogenated block copolymer was 18.5% by weight.

Compositions were prepared in the same manner as described in Examples 34 through 47 except that the copolymer C-9 was used as the modified hydrogenated block copolymer, and the physical properties of the compositions were examined. It was found that this composition is excellent in paint adhesion, impact resistance, gloss, weatherability and resistance to heat aging as well as the compositions obtained in Examples 34 through 47.

Probability of Utilization in Industry

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, since the modified block copolymer composition of the present invention is a composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a modified block copolymer having a very good compatibility with each other, the composition of the present invention is very homogeneous and is excellent over the conventional mixtures of different polymers in mechanical characteristics, and furthermore, the composition of the present invention has an excellent weatherability and heat aging resistance. Accordingly, it is expected that the composition of the present invention will be effectively used in various fields. As specific uses now considered, there can be mentioned materials for machine parts, automobile parts, electrical parts, toys, industrial parts, belts, hoses, shoes, medical appliances, shock-absorbing rubber articles, daily necessaries, miscellaneous goods, construction articles, sheets, films, blow-molded articles, solution-type adhesives, hot melt adhesives, tackifiers and adhesive layers of laminated articles.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A modified block copolymer comprising:a radial base block copolymer of at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks (A) and at least one olefin compound polymer block (B) composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound which polymer block (B) has its conjugated diene compound moiety hydrogenated to have an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, said radial base block copolymer having a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of 5 to 95% by weight, said conjugated diene compound moiety of said polymer block (B) having a vinyl content of 25 to 65% in terms of the vinyl content before the hydrogenation of said conjugated diene compound moiety; and at least one molecular unit grafted to said radial base block copolymer, said molecular unit containing at least one member selected from the residue of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid group and groups derived therefrom.
 2. The modified block copolymer according to claim 1, which is one obtained by the reaction of a radial base block copolymer of at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks and at least one olefin compound polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound which olefin compound polymer block has its conjugated diene compound moiety hydrogenated to have an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, said radial base block copolymer having a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of 5 to 95% by weight, said conjugated diene compound moiety of said olefin compound polymer block having a vinyl content of 25 to 65% in terms of the vinyl content before the hydrogenation of said conjugated diene compound moiety, with at least one modifying agent selected from the group consisting of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof.
 3. The modified block copolymer according to claim 2, wherein said radial base block copolymer is one obtained by selectively hydrogenating a radial precursory block copolymer comprising at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks and at least one polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound, said radial precursory block copolymer having a vinyl content of 25 to 65%, wherein said selective hydrogenation is performed at the conjugated diene compound moiety of said polymer block to the extent that the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound is 20% or less.
 4. The modified block copolymer according to claim 3, wherein said radial precursory block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 20,000 to 500,000.
 5. The modified block copolymer according to claim 2, wherein said modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, maleic acid esters, maleic acid amides, maleic acid imides, fumaric acid, fumaric acid esters, fumaric acid amides, fumaric acid imides, itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, itaconic acid esters, itaconic acid amides, itaconic acid imides, halogenated maleic acid, halogenated maleic anhydride, halogenated maleic acid esters, halogenated maleic acid amides, halogenated maleic acid imides, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid esters, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid amides, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid imides, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid esters, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid amides, and endo-cis bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imides.
 6. The modified block copolymer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said molecular unit is grafted to said radial base block copolymer in an amount of 0.05 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said radial base block copolymer.
 7. The modified block copolymer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is 5 to 60% inclusive by weight.
 8. The modified block copolymer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is over 60% by weight up to 95% inclusive by weight.
 9. The modified block copolymer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, which is ionically crosslinked through at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of monovalent, divalent and trivalent metal ions to form an ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer.
 10. The modified block copolymer according to claim 9, wherein the ionical crosslinking of said modified block copolymer through said metal ion is effected using at least one crosslinking agent selected from compounds of said metals in a ratio of 0.1 to 3.0 in terms of a molar ratio of the metal of said crosslinking agent relative to said member selected from a dicarboxylic acid group and groups derived therefrom which member is contained in said modified block copolymer.
 11. The modified block copolymer according to claim 9, wherein said metal ion is at least one member selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc and aluminum ions.
 12. The modified block copolymer according to claim 9, wherein said molecular unit is grafted to said radial base block copolymer in an amount of 0.05 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said radial base block copolymer.
 13. The modified block copolymer according to claim 9, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is 5 to 60% inclusive by weight.
 14. The modified block copolymer according to claim 9, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is over 60% by weight up to 95% inclusive by weight.
 15. A process for producing a modified block copolymer, which comprises reacting a radial base block copolymer of at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks and at least one olefin compound polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound which olefin compound polymer block has its conjugated diene compound moiety hydrogenated to have an ethylenic unsaturation degree not exceeding 20%, said radial base block copolymer having a monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of 5 to 95% by weight, said conjugated diene compound moiety of said olefin compound polymer block having a vinyl content of 25 to 65% in terms of the vinyl content before the hydrogenation of said conjugated diene compound moiety, with at least one modifying agent selected from the group consisting of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof in the presence of a radical initiator so that at least one molecular unit containing at least one member selected from the residue of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid group and groups derived therefrom is grafted to said radial base block copolymer.
 16. The process according to claim 15, wherein said radial base block copolymer is one obtained by selectively hydrogenating a radial precursory block copolymer comprising at least two monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer blocks and at least one polymer block composed mainly of a conjugated diene compound, said radial precursory block copolymer having a vinyl content of 25 to 65%, wherein said selective hydrogenation is performed at the conjugated diene compound moiety of said polymer block to the extent that the ethylenic unsaturation degree of the polymer block composed mainly of the conjugated diene compound is 20% or less.
 17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the said radial precursory block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 20,000 to 500,000.
 18. The process according to claim 15, wherein said modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, maleic acid esters, maleic acid amides, maleic acid imides, fumaric acid, fumaric acid esters, fumaric acid amides, fumaric acid imides, itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, itaconic acid imides, halogenated maleic acid, halogenated maleic anhydride, halogenated maleic acid esters, halogenated maleic acid amides, halogenated maleic acid imides, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid esters, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid amides, cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid imides, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid esters, endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid amides, and endo-cis-bicyclo(2,2,1)-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imides.
 19. The process according to claim 15, 16, 17 or 18, wherein said molecular unit is grafted to said radial base block copolymer in an amount of 0.05 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said radial base block copolymer.
 20. The process according to claim 15, 16, 17 or 18, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is 5 to 60% inclusive by weight.
 21. The process according to claim 15, 16, 17 or 18, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is over 60% by weight up to 95% inclusive by weight.
 22. The process according to claim 15, 16, 17 or 18, which further comprises crosslinking said modified block copolymer with at least one crosslinking agent selected from metal compounds, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of monovalent, divalent and trivalent metals to form an ionically crosslinked modified block copolymer.
 23. The process according to claim 22, wherein said crosslinking agent is employed in a ratio of 0.1 to 3.0 in terms of a molar ratio of the metal of said crosslinking agent relative to said member selected from the residue of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid group and groups derived therefrom which member is contained in said modified block copolymer.
 24. The process according to claim 22, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc and aluminum.
 25. The process according to claim 22, wherein said molecular unit is grafted to said radial base block copolymer in an amount of 0.05 to 10 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of said radial base block copolymer.
 26. The process according to claim 22, wherein the monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is 5 to 60% inclusive by weight.
 27. The process according to claim 22, wherein said monovinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon content of said radial base block copolymer is over 60% by weight up to 95% inclusive by weight. 